Florida construction industry
The construction industry grew in 39 states this past year, according to analysis of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America.
Florida led the growth, adding 41,900 jobs between September 2013 and September 2014. While it was closely followed by significant gains in California, Texas, Illinois and Louisiana, the state’s massive addition of jobs has the state scrambling to find qualified workers to fill the opportunities.
According to the Sun-Sentinel, carpenters are in the highest demand for the Southern state, but employers are having a hard time finding electricians, drywall installers, painters and even project managers. The source reported that Florida’s issues are reflective of a national trend – 83 percent of hiring managers across the country are struggling to find craft workers and 61 percent of U.S. bosses are finding it hard to pin down qualified construction professionals.
The shortage is partially due to a housing boom currently happening in South Florida. The area is seeing a huge increase in the construction of high rise apartment buildings and needs more labor than ever before.
This increased need for construction workers has been extremely beneficial in terms of wage growth, noted the Sun-Sentinel. Most of the firms in the area have raised compensation or are offering more bonuses than before.