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!
wow, that is the actual prove of there contibution behind the good move. they are secter hero.
Perhaps I should consider a career change? LOL I am sure I would make more money. I could be on the cutting edge of a shocking new career. Good post @doitvoluntarily . I think you nailed this one!
Thanks for Information. Nice
https://steemit.com/business/@liliya15/keshberi
The third world is sure to meet the demand
The same happens in europe.
What my thought was during reading this.
But but who is gonna build "the wall"?
Little joke of course ;)
Jobs and jobs for workers @doitvoluntarily
We have the same problem here in oil country. I can't throw a rock and not hit a help wanted sign. People really don't want to work, I don't think.
That and the volatility of the industry is kind of crappy. A couple years of 6 figure pay though should make up for that. Can't force people to work.
What's interesting here though is that we are at nearly full employment if you believe the government numbers. Trump and the Republicans want to put us even FURTHER into debt though to give a minor tax cut to the middle class and a large tax cut to businesses in order to create jobs? While cracking down on immigration....Ummmmm, I'm missing something here. Who will fill the million new jobs created by this tax plan?
Hey my friend how are you? Good post!!Greets from Germany
Seems there is a shortage in quite a few places, about time they were paid a good wage :)
Thanks for this very interesting post.
I believe the POTUS' deportation plan is a huge reason for this uptick in jobs.
While this may be a positive for the US job market long-term, it's clear the promo of college needs to be squashed, in exchange for community trade schools.
Unfortunately, a lot of qualified workers aren't able to pass drug tests, due to the opiod-addiction crisis.
Again, thanks for sharing!
Peace.
Can't say the same for South Korea. It seems like there is a new building going up every other hour. There is even an entire block dedicated to the tool industry in the city where I live. The street is full of tool shops, machinery, blacksmiths, etc
Wish I had chosen that type of trade. Construction that is. Not everyone can be a highly paid executive.
The black hills is experieancing quite a boom. my company is in dire need of qualified help. We frequent Colorado too and since the cannabis legislation it has been in a down right crazy boom.
And Trump wants to deport 11 million people, many of whom would be eager to take a well-paying job.