Page 61 - BusinessWest September 19, 2022

Survey Says
CU.S. Construction Industry Lags Due to Global Labor Shortage
onstruction’s skilled-labor shortage is a ing positions, mentioned by 77% of employers, is more workers to legally enter the nation. Later in well-known and serious concern for the U.S. that available individuals lack the skills required to the online conversation, the panelists discussed construction sector, but the extent of the work in construction or cannot take a drug test. how to spread the word about the advantages of a
problem shows issues that need to be resolved right away if the country is to satisfy rising con- struction demand.
Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and Autodesk conducted a workforce survey, and
According to the national employment figures, the construction sector’s unemployment rate as of July was actually slightly lower than that of other sec- tors, he added. That’s remarkable in a sector where workers aren’t always kept on the payroll once a
career in construction to other undiscovered labor pools, including those in the retail and hospitality industries.
The panelists also talked about considering those who have served time in prison as job seekers because many of them are trying to better their lives but haven’t had much luck finding work.
Regardless of potential remedies, the existing shortages will undoubtedly hinder the completion of projects.
Construction enterprises of all shapes, sizes, and labor arrangements are suffering from a serious scarcity of laborers, according to Simonson. These labour shortages are making it harder for businesses to deal with supply-chain risks that are driving up building material costs and causing uncertainty in delivery times and product availability.
Indeed, 82% of businesses claim that projects they are working on have been delayed due to sup- ply-chain issues, and six in ten state that projects have been delayed due to manpower shortages. The federal government’s new infrastructure spending and more recent expenditures on semiconductor manufacturers and energy-infrastructure projects won’t deliver as much as promised if there aren’t
Construction
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“The AGC is urging officials at the federal, state, and local levels to support career and technical education initiatives that will introduce more current and future workers to the diverse career options in the construction industry.”
project is completed. With a 3.5% rate, virtu- ally no one with prior construction expertise is actively seeking employment in the industry.
However, a panel of construction profes- sionals in a webinar hosted by AGC said the industry needs to attack the issue from every perspective, which includes education and training, public relations, and things as simple as employers improving wages, perks, and labor standards. The survey results highlight the need for public officials to invest in new workforce- development programs focused on the con- struction industry.
According to Simonson, federal, state, and local officials must invest in the kinds of profes-
the results show that 93% of construction companies report having positions available they are trying to fill, and 91% of those firms are having trouble try- ing to fill at least some of those positions, especially among the craft workforce that accomplishes the majority of on-site construction activities.
According to Ken Simonson, chief economist at AGC, the most common rationale for problems fill-
sional and technical education programs that will introduce more current and future employees to the myriad job possibilities that exist in construction. Additionally, these programs offer the kind of funda- mental capabilities employers are looking for.
On a completely separate note, Simonson pro- posed that, in order to help cover demand gaps, federal officials could also take action to permit
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