In an industry-wide survey released in August by Autodesk and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), eighty percent of construction firm respondents report they are having a hard time filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.
According to the report, all four regions of the country are experiencing similarly severe craft worker shortages, with 83 percent of contractors in the West and South reporting a hard time filling hourly craft positions, almost identical to the 81 percent rate in the Midwest and 75 percent rate in the Northeast.
Seventy-three percent of firms report it will continue to be hard, or get even harder, to find hourly craft workers over the next 12 months. One reason for their worries is that contractors are skeptical of the quality of the pipeline for recruiting and preparing new craft personnel. Forty-five percent say the local pipeline for preparing well-trained and skilled workers is poor. And 26 percent say the pipeline for finding workers who can pass a drug test is poor.
Labor shortages are prompting many firms to boost pay and compensation. Two-thirds of firms report they have increased base pay rates for craft workers. And 29 percent report they are providing incentives and bonuses to attract craft workers. Firms are also taking a greater role in developing their own workforce. Forty-six percent report that have launched or expanded in-house training programs and half report getting involved in career building programs.
If you are looking for quality skilled labor for your business the NWFA offers its NWFA Wood Flooring Specialist Apprenticeship Program, approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. The program provides many benefits to both businesses and workers who are participating in the apprenticeship program. Learn more about the NWFA Wood Flooring Specialist Apprenticeship Program.