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New smartphone app tackles construction worker shortage



AUSTIN, TX, June 13, 2024. Jale (pronounced hah-leh), a new app for Iphone and Android users, aims to streamline the process for contractors to find and hire Latino blue-collar workers in Central Texas quickly and efficiently.


Addressing Labor Shortages: With a significant worker shortage driven by federal initiatives and local mega projects, Jale provides a bilingual platform to connect contractors with available workers.


User-Friendly Features: The app is optimized for mobile use, allowing employers to find workers based on specific criteria like proximity and skillset, while workers can easily showcase their experiences and job skills.


Market Validation: Jale has secured multiple Letters of Intent from local construction companies and has a database of 4,000 workers ready to use the app, demonstrating a strong market need and support.


Want to dive in deeper - read the full story below:


Jale: Bridging the Gap Between Contractors and Latino Workers in Central Texas


ALTS New Mobile App is Connecting Contractors and Latino Workers in Central TexasNew Mobile App is Linking Contractors and Latino Workers in Central Texas

New Mobile App Matching Contractors and Latino Workers in Central Texas


Austin, Texas — A local startup aims to help contractors find workers as easily and quickly as possible. Jale, pronounced hah-leh, a Mexican-Spanish slang word for “work”, is a new mobile app dedicated to the construction recruiting sector. It is tackling the worker shortage issue while supporting the Latino community for which it was also created.


The construction industry is facing a significant shortage of workers in 2024 due to increasing demand from federal initiatives such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJ) and Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors Act (CHIPS). 


Closer to home, mega projects like the renovation of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, expansion of the Austin Convention Center, and the remake of I-35 in both Austin and San Antonio, along with the general population growth in Central Texas, are contributing to the difficulty that construction companies are having in attracting workers. According to an Associated General Contractors report, 55% of construction companies think it will continue to be or become more difficult to hire in the future, while only 1% think it will get easier. 


Jale, the creation of Work4Workers, Inc, is an innovative app that serves as a bilingual mobile platform designed explicitly for blue-collar hiring with a focus on the Latino workforce.


Challenges with Current Recruiting Technologies


So why Jale? Current recruiting technologies, websites, and apps often fail blue-collar workers by emphasizing digital resumes and online portfolios, which many in this industry lack. While the construction labor force in Texas is made up in large part of Latino workers, many of these platforms aren’t bilingual and fail to take into account the nuances of this demographic with regard to onboarding them to their platforms. Furthermore, many of these platforms are either not optimized for mobile use or they do not have the features that blue-collar workers typically use. 


Jale - Innovating the Blue-Collar Recruiting Landscape


Jale helps facilitate worker recruiting for employers with a quick registration process and just the click of a button to find hourly workers based on specifications the contractor is looking for, including job site proximity, skillsets, reviews, and more. In parallel, the app allows hourly workers to easily sign up and showcase their work in one central place. The app is also optimized for mobile devices to accommodate blue-collar workers, as many may primarily depend on their cell phones for internet access. Plus, Jale is a subscription-based software that comes in much less than what recruiting firms charge to find one employee — about eight times more cost-effective, on average.


Currently, multiple Letters of Intent (LOIs) from various construction companies speak to how a product like this is needed in the market. Aside from the LOIs, Work4Workers has also tested its product with various local firms. In addition, the company has performed multiple hours of user testing with actual construction workers in the field, who have validated the app and the need for this type of product. This is reinforced by a database of almost 4,000 construction workers who have indicated their desire to be on an app such as Jale.


From a contractor perspective, the team at Jale has been reaching out to local firms to get their input.  “Texas summers can be brutal and we see a lot of turnover in the construction industry due to the harsh conditions. Jale helps us fill our open positions quickly so we don’t miss a beat,” explained Mark Rangel, owner of Austin-based solar developer Spear Commercial and Industrial, which has projects nationwide. 


De Haro Ramirez Group owner Marco Ramirez, another early tester of the Jale construction recruiting app, wrote “Jale is the job search tool the construction industry has been looking for. I’ve tried the original prototype and boy was I impressed. Can’t wait to use the app when it comes out!”




The Jale app is set to launch in both Austin and San Antonio by the end of this summer. Sign up to be one of the first to download and use the app when it's released by clicking on the link below. You can also follow Jale on social media to learn more about our company and have a few laughs as well.


About Jale CEO, Samuel Franco


Samuel Franco is the co-founder and CEO of Work4Workers Inc., the company developing Jale. A proud Civil Engineering graduate from the University of Texas at El Paso, he began his career as a Project Manager with Ferroival Construction where he was involved in constructing SH-130 just outside of Austin. Born and raised on the U.S./Mexico border in El Paso, Samuel’s passion for the construction labor force stems from seeing how his father worked tirelessly as a heavy equipment operator to provide for his family. 


"My dedication to advocating for Latino hourly workers is informed by personal experiences, long-term knowledge of the industry's needs, and my own lived experience and understanding of the Latino community,” says Samuel. This inspired him to create a company that values and supports Latino workers. Jale’s goal is to be a more transparent and accessible job search engine that uplifts and supports the Latino workforce.


Samuel leverages his extensive network and industry knowledge to address pressing issues in construction and infrastructure. His vision for Jale is to drive innovative solutions that meet current needs and anticipate future challenges, ensuring long-term success of construction companies and the Latino labor force. Jale is excited about the future and its impact on the blue-collar hiring landscape. 


Facebook - Instagram - TikToc 


Contact Information:

LinkedIn: [Samuel Franco]


End of Press Release





 


Below this line is the same article, but all in the third person:



A New App Bridges Improves Construction Worker Hiring with Innovative Bilingual Platform


Austin, Texas – A local startup aims to help contractors find workers as easily and quickly as possible. Jale (pronounced hah-leh, a Mexican Spanish slang word for “work”), an app dedicated to the construction recruiting sector, is tackling the worker shortage issue while supporting the Latino community for which it was also created.


Much like years prior, the construction industry will face a significant shortage of workers in 2024 due to increasing demand from federal initiatives such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJ) and Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors Act (CHIPS). Closer to home, mega projects like the renovation of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the expansion of the Austin Convention Center, the remake of I-35 in both Austin and San Antonio, and the general population growth in Central Texas are making it difficult for construction companies to find and attract workers. According to a report from the Associated General Contractors, 55% of construction companies think it will continue to be or get harder to hire in the future, while only 1% think it will get easier. To address this challenge and support the economic engine that is Central Texas, Samuel Franco, Co-founder and CEO of Work4Workers Inc., along with his team, have created Jale. This innovative app is a bilingual mobile platform designed explicitly for blue-collar hiring and focuses on the Latino workforce.


Challenges with Current Recruiting Technologies


Current recruiting technologies, websites, and apps often fail blue-collar workers by emphasizing digital resumes and online portfolios, which many in this industry lack. With a labor force largely made up of Latino workers, many of these platforms are not bilingual and do not consider the nuances of this demographic regarding onboarding. Additionally, these platforms are not optimized for mobile use, and their job descriptions do not resonate with blue-collar workers.


Jale - Innovating the Blue-Collar Recruiting Landscape


Jale allows employers to quickly register and click a button to find hourly workers based on specifications they create, including proximity to the job site, skillset, reviews, and more. The app also allows hourly workers to easily sign up and showcase their work in one central place. Optimized for mobile devices, Jale accommodates blue-collar workers. The product is a subscription-based software that is significantly cheaper than what recruiting firms charge to find one employee—about eight times cheaper.


Currently, Jale has multiple Letters of Intent (LOIs) from various construction companies indicating a need for this product in the market. The company has also tested its product with various local firms.


“Texas summers can be brutal, and we see a lot of turnover in the construction industry due to the harsh conditions. Jale helps us fill our open positions quickly so we don’t miss a beat,” explained Mark Rangel, owner of Austin-based solar developer Spear Commercial and Industrial, which has projects throughout the country.


Marco Ramirez, owner of De Haro Ramirez Group, another early tester of the Jale construction recruiting app, wrote, “Jale is the job search tool the construction industry has been looking for. I’ve tried the original prototype and was impressed. Can’t wait to see the use version when it comes out!”


The company has conducted multiple hours of user testing with actual construction workers in the field, validating the app and the need for such a product. This is proven by Jale’s database of almost 4,000 construction workers who have indicated their desire to be on an app like Jale.


The app is set to launch in both Austin and San Antonio by the end of this summer. Sign up to be one of the first to download and use the app when it is released by clicking on the link below.


Follow Jale on social media to learn more about the company and stay updated.


About Samuel Franco


Samuel Franco is the co-founder and CEO of Jale. A proud Civil Engineering graduate from the University of Texas at El Paso, he began his career as a Project Manager with Ferroival Construction, where he was involved in constructing SH-130 just outside of Austin. Born and raised on the U.S./Mexico border in El Paso, Samuel’s passion for the construction labor force stems from seeing how his father worked tirelessly as a heavy equipment operator to provide for his family.


"My dedication to advocating for Latino hourly workers is informed by personal experiences, long-term knowledge of the industry's needs, and my own lived experience and understanding of the Latino community,” says Samuel. This inspired him to create a company that values and supports Latino workers. Jale’s goal is to be a more transparent and accessible job search engine that uplifts and supports the Latino workforce.


Samuel leverages his extensive network and industry knowledge to address pressing issues in construction and infrastructure. His vision for Jale is to drive innovative solutions that meet current needs and anticipate future challenges, ensuring long-term success. Jale is excited about the future and its impact on the blue-collar hiring landscape.


Follow Jale on Social Media:

- Facebook

- Instagram

- TikTok


Contact Information:


End of Press Release




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