Desperately Looking For More Construction Workers
Construction firms around the United States are desperately looking for workers and they are struggling to find them at all levels of building experience.
Though they are trying to find workers with all levels of experience, it's suggested that carpenters and electricians are the most in-demand specialties right now.
Since 2007, the ratio of construction job openings to hiring, according to the Department of Labor, is currently at the highest that it has been.
The shortage of workers is fueling a rise in cost for builders, worker wages, and it's been slowing down the construction process. At a time when many areas are struggling with a real estate dilemma and shortage of housing, this certainly isn't helping things.
Private construction companies say that they haven't done a good enough job at trying to market the career as an option to workers today.
For those who go straight into learning a trade or working in some field directly out of high-school, sometimes they have better luck than had they drowned themselves in debt for several years at a post-secondary institution.
Private companies are doing what they can to try and attract some interested employees, they've even taken to handing out flyers at sports events, schools, and churches. In some instances, they are directly funding the training in a variety of workshops.
Some areas are seeing a worse shortage of labor than others, areas like Georgia, Arizona, Missouri, California, and Colorado.
In Colorado, the worsening situation has prompted one homebuilder to fund a free school that is going to be funded by a Berkshire Hathaway-owned company known as Oakwood Homes. For every home that the company closes on, they will be looking to send at least $1,000 to fund the school program. And this year, they are allegedly closing on more than 1,300 homes.
According to Colorado State University, they suggest that by 2025 there will be at least a 38 percent increase in vacancies in the construction trade. For construction companies, the shortage of labor is one of their biggest issues right now that they are facing and it has allegedly been growing steadily since the housing crash. That crash is estimated to have pushed roughly 30 percent of workers into other fields.
When it comes to homebuilders views of the labor shortage problem, back in 2011 around 13 percent had reported and said that they saw it as an issue for their business. Things have changed however, today it's roughly 82 percent who report viewing this as a problem for their business.
Sources:
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/31/desperate-for-workers-a-colorado-homebuilder-starts-a-free-school.html
http://www.businessinsider.com/r-construction-worker-shortage-weighs-on-hot-us-housing-market-2016-9
http://www.ajc.com/business/economy/georgia-construction-companies-where-are-the-workers/Vsby4cuqkARdJctcjDpnFP/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/05/20/only-27-percent-of-college-grads-have-a-job-related-to-their-major/?utm_term=.83ac12f95f88
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/15/why-college-grads-cant-find-jobs-commentary.html
https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2017/08/29/agc-survey-labor-shortages-construction.html
https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/jobs/2017/08/29/arizona-shortage-of-construction-workers-contractors-paying-higher-wages/609418001/
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Hmmmmm i think i know some people who are fit
My 2 brothers and I are all in trades. Electrical and welding. Just in our state there is a huge demand in the union. Everyone is working and they needed an additional 200 people a couple months back. This is crazy!! The guys working are working a ton of hours and making a lot of money. Finding people who want to work is a different story.
I am a lineman
One brother is an electrician and the other is a welder/ sheet metal worker.
much informative article you written about the defficiency and shortage of workers and jobs lying vacant for construction workers. thanks @doitvoluntarily for updates.
This is an interesting issue, especially the part where you mention that most people leaving high school plan to go to college and are then stuck with crushing debt. I've seen first hand a large number of students that quite frankly are not served best by going to college, and would be better suited for trade jobs, but there are a number of factors that are leading to a negative view of trade jobs in the US. One is that they just aren't cool, like a college degree is cool, and another is that they miss out on the party scene at college. Most people that go to college just to party shouldn't be there in the first place, college is a very strong draw for many reasons that are not education. The trick to change this will start in media just like everything else.
Yep, and the government dangles the slave carrot called Student-Loan Debt under the nose of the hungry rabbits ready to fly the coop. And, the rest is history...a lifetime of unforgiveable debt.
Peace.
This is very true, the availability of fast money that isn't earned will be paid for over a life time.
I'll reword to say:
The availability of fast money (in form of a loan) may be paid for over a life time.
Wow. This should be posted on every fridge door. Many thanks! ✌
You worded it a little better, but yes, kids everywhere growing up should be reminded of this concept when they are looking down the barrel of a student loan with a casual 10% interest rate that starts the day you sign for it!
@tschelpps This knowledge has to be taught, starting as early as 4th grade, 10-11 years of age, when they are still malleable.
An 18 yo is tone deaf to anything anti their agenda.
However, if children are taught the cost of a government-loan in pictures and diagrams, fewer would be interested, and make alternate plans for defining higher ed, i.e. self-taught techies, trade school.
Thanks for chiming in.
Peace.
I work as a general contractor and I can vouch for this.
in the last years the proposals of studies have changed much there is much publicity of works in lienas or cmerciales, the operative teachings have lost interest in the young people, this is not of now, it is happening to do many years, ho see the consequences of this phenomenon
I wish you a wonderful day dear friend @doitvoluntarily
I'm seeing more and more help wanted signs everywhere I go.
This is truly an issue that needs addressing @doitvoluntarily . Far too many are being educated for jobs through colleges and universities that may find there is no place for their new found knowledge by the time they graduate.
I have a friend from high school, he went on to college for several years. Upon graduating he was hired by an internet company. He even relocated to start the job but then before he started, found the job had been outsourced to another country. All those years were wasted for him, huge student debt and basically broke the man's spirit and he never recovered. (that being his own fault for giving up but still it rings true for many)
One area that many are not yet familiar enough with is the move toward AI. I have no idea how that will effect the market for many right now attending colleges and universities, but something they may want to consider.
Happy to see the related article on the hemp industry. I think that will also open a new field for many in manufacturing and building. Am looking forward to that advancement.
Trade workers are definitely becoming scarce. Good read
nice post @doitvoluntarily
thank you!