Is There a Shortage of Skilled Labor in the U.S?

During the last recession, construction and manufacturing were two of the hardest hit industries.  According to the publication, Finance and Commerce, “The U.S. lost about 2.1 million construction jobs from December 2007 when the recession began through January 2011, when industry employment hit its lowest level since 1996.”* 

As a result, many workers left the industries and went back to school or retrained for jobs in the business or service sectors and also the number of young people enrolling in vocational or technical programs declined.  Recent studies have shown that skilled construction workers are getting older such as a report from EMSI in 2012 that states 53% of skilled-trade workers in the U.S. were 45 years or older. 

Now that we have gotten past the worst of the depression, the demand for skilled workers is way up.  A report from the Minneapolis Star Tribune in July, 2013 estimates the Minneapolis/St. Paul area will need more than 20,000 new workers in construction and manufacturing by 2015.  This means that there has to be a concerted effort throughout the country to encourage and provide training opportunities for young people to enter the industries and fill the shortage. 

The Concrete Pumping, Winter 2014 publication cites the FMI’s 2013 U.S. Construction Industry Talent Development Report that was sent to general contractors and construction managers.  It shows that over half of the respondents indicated a shortage of skilled labor.  The report also said there is a need to recruit more women and minorities to fill these skilled trade jobs.    

The good news is that many companies are making an effort to recruit young workers and get the word out about the benefits of having a well-paying job in the construction industry.  There are even some states that are expanding community college and vocational training programs to help meet the demand for skilled construction workers.  Even celebrity, Mike Rowe, is leading a campaign to promote skilled labor careers and alternative education programs.

*Read more: http://finance-commerce.com/2013/08/labor-shortages-slow-us-home-rebound/#ixzz2tgl8ed7w

For over 50 years, Conco has been providing premium concrete services and is one of the most trusted concrete contractors in Seattle.  We partner with clients on every project from the pre-construction stage right through to final completion to maximize efficiency and ensure goals and budgets are met.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.