Nikken Total Sourcing Expands 'Hiroshima Construction Technology Center' to Address Shortage of Construction Management Engineers

Nikken Total Sourcing Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Ota-ku, Tokyo), a 'Human Capital Creation Company' that views diverse talent as human capital and creates possibilities through human resource solutions, relocated and expanded its training facility, the 'Hiroshima Construction Technology Center,' in March 2026 to cultivate construction management engineers.

In the construction industry, the shortage of human resources is becoming critical nationwide. The number of construction workers has decreased from 6.85 million in 1997 to 4.77 million in 2024, making the lack of successors a major issue. Additionally, rising material costs and labor expenses have kept construction costs on an upward trend, leading to project delays and extended construction periods across the country.

In Hiroshima Prefecture, while redevelopment and complex facility construction projects are progressing, delays in starting construction and completion are occurring due to labor shortages. As the prefecture has many industrial zones, there is an urgent need for personnel in specialized fields such as plant construction.

In response, we have expanded and relocated the Hiroshima Construction Technology Center as a training base for construction management engineers, including those with no experience, to resolve the local labor shortage. We aim to create talent that meets regional construction demands by establishing an educational system that allows for systematic learning from basics to practice.

Supporting Training for 'Plant Construction,' Which is in High Demand in Hiroshima

The Hiroshima area is characterized by many industrial zones and high demand for plant construction in addition to general construction. Furthermore, responding to the rapid DX (Digital Transformation) of the industry and improving operational efficiency are important themes on-site.

The strength of the Hiroshima Construction Technology Center lies in its experienced instructors who have been involved in plant construction for many years. We provide a highly specialized curriculum that includes not only basic knowledge of construction management but also how to handle special site environments based on practical experience and how to interpret drawings.

In addition, to align with the DX of sites, we have introduced drawing management and photo organization using tablet-based construction management apps into the curriculum. We cultivate talent that can contribute to reducing administrative burdens on-site immediately after assignment.

With this relocation, the site area has expanded by approximately 1.5 times, allowing for the expansion of practical training spaces for full-harness safety equipment and surveying. This strengthens our system to meet the growing demand for construction talent both within and outside the prefecture by enabling simultaneous classroom and practical training and accepting more trainees at once.

Comments from Two Trainees (Excerpt) - I jumped into the world of construction management from a non-experienced background to improve my skills. The training provides practical advice based on actual site experience, making it very easy to understand even for a beginner like me. The teaching materials are well-designed, and learning from multiple perspectives through group work was also attractive. I want to challenge myself to obtain various qualifications and become a trusted engineer on-site. - I applied for this training because I was convinced that construction management engineers, who are required to make flexible judgments and communicate with people on-site, are jobs that will be needed in the future, even in a society where AI is advancing. In the training, I learned the importance of safety management and risk prediction, and developed an awareness of looking at the entire site rather than just doing the work. It is very reassuring to have an environment where I can learn the basics systematically. I hope to contribute as an engineer who supports social infrastructure in the civil engineering field in the future.

Comments from a Nikken Total Sourcing Representative In the Hiroshima region, construction demand is at a very high level, including urban redevelopment and renewal work for aging infrastructure. On the other hand, labor shortages are an urgent issue due to the aging of engineers and stricter regulations on overtime work. To break through this situation, we have expanded and relocated the Hiroshima Construction Technology Center as a base to actively recruit, train, and produce young, inexperienced talent as construction management engineers.

With this relocation, we have established a permanent practical training space, creating an environment where practical training using scaffolding and experiential training using safety bulletin boards can be conducted more systematically. The 10-day initial training covers essential courses for on-site work, such as special education for full-harness safety equipment and foreman education to learn on-site command and safety management. We provide a curriculum that turns the anxiety that inexperienced people have about the site into confidence.

Furthermore, even after assignment, we fully support career advancement toward obtaining national qualifications such as Construction Management Engineer through e-learning and follow-up training at the Construction Technology Center. By cultivating the next generation of young people and producing as many people as possible who support social infrastructure, we will contribute to the development of the local community and the construction industry.