Contractors plan hiring boost to offset shortage

Most state contractors say they plan to boost their workforces by 25 percent this year, but that’s the same level as a year ago — even though work is booming and more is anticipated in 2017.

“Not only is the construction market strong, but companies feel particularly optimistic moving forward,” said Peter Dyga, CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors’ Florida East Coast chapter, which helps train construction workers. But he said higher infrastructure spending is likely to “exacerbate” the worker shortage in South Florida and the state.

Thirty percent of state contractors say they plan to hire more than 25 workers to cover increased construction activity this year, according to a survey released Tuesday by The Associated General Contractors of America, an Arlington, Va.,-based trade association. Another 7 percent said they would add 16 to 25 new workers.

The forecast springs from the state’s construction rebound in 2016 and optimism that PresidentElect Donald Trump will make good on campaign promises that he’d press Congress to plow hundreds of millions into infrastructure projects.

More than half of state contractors say they continue to experience shortages in skilled labor, even though local groups are working as quickly as they can to train new workers.

But Stephen Sandherr, president of Associated General Contractors of America, said on a call with media Tuesday that despite contractors’ optimism, “we are reminding our members not to engage in ‘irrational exuberance.’ Getting a big infrastructure package through Congress will be a major undertaking.”

Dyga said Associated Builders & Contractors is trying to attract new construction workers with aerial banners over local football games, beaches and music festivals that say “Start Your Construction Career,” directing people to the WeTrain.org website.

In August, the group enrolled its largest class, 267, since 2007, and now has a total of 740 people in its four-year construction apprentice programs.

Builders and their subcontractors lost many skilled workers to the oil drilling industry and other sectors during the housing crisis and recession. More entry-level workers also are needed as Baby Boomer workers retire. Now that Florida’s construction industry is booming again, it is struggling to find workers who have the skills the builders need.

To attract workers, half of the state’s contractors surveyed by Associated General Contractors say they’ve increased base salary with 36 percent providing bonuses and 29 percent offering improved employee benefits. Sixty percent of the contractors surveyed say they increased their investment in training.

Construction increases in the state are expected to be strongest in transportation, or transit, rail and ports; as well as higher education. Other sectors showing growth were hospitals; retail and warehouse; offices; apartments and other multifamily residential housing; highways and public buildings, including schools.

Associated General Contractors’ economist Ken Simonson noted All-Aboard Florida’s Brightline high-speed rail system is providing construction jobs in Florida, as well as other infrastructure projects in the state.

Nationwide, 73 percent of construction firms plan to expand their payrolls in 2017 as contractors expect private and public sector demand to grow in all market segments, according to the survey results. Nearly 1,300 companies participated in the survey that was taken between early November and mid-December.

CARLINE JEAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER To attract workers, half of the state’s contractors surveyed by Associated General Contractors say they’ve increased base salary with 36 percent providing bonuses and 29 percent offering improved employee benefits.