Ohio hurt more by lack of workers
Ohio is experiencing a bit more-severe shortage of construction workers than the nation is, according to a survey released Monday by the Associated General Contractors of America.
In a press conference in Columbus, the group’s national spokesman, Brian Turmail, said 73 percent of Ohio construction firms report having trouble finding qualified workers, compared with 70 percent of construction firms nationally.
In Columbus, the hiring challenge could be even greater: Turmail said that in July, the Columbus metropolitan area had 4,300 more construction jobs than in the previous July. That 11 percent increase ranks Columbus 26th among 358 metro areas.
In the near term, Turmail said, a continuing lack of qualified workers could mean that fewer companies are able to bid on construction projects. That could delay projects or drive up costs.
Longer term, Turmail said, the worker shortage could create a drag on the economy because projects wouldn’t be generating and supporting jobs that eventually result in consumer spending.
Turmail said the shortage has three main causes.
First, many in the baby-boom generation — the youngest of whom are in their mid50s — are retiring.
Second, during the Great Recession that began in late 2007, some construction workers who were unable to find jobs went into other fields such as energy and health care. Construction was “among the first industries to lay off workers, and among the last to rehire,” Turmail said.
Finally, he said, too few young people are entering the profession to make up for losses from the first two causes. That’s in part because the U.S. educational system moved away from vocational education in recent decades, steering students to college instead.
“We want to let young people know there are well-paying jobs waiting in construction,” Turmail said. He called on the Senate to pass the reauthorization of the Perkins Act, which would give the states greater decisionmaking and funding authority over career and technical training.
The greatest need reported by Ohio construction firms was for hourly craft positions: skilled-trades workers who specialize in areas such as carpentry and heavy-equipment operation.
Between 40 and 43 percent also reported having trouble finding workers to fill some salaried office positions and field positions such as estimators and project managers.
About half of those with unfilled positions said they had increased overtime hours in the past year as a result.
Monday’s press conference was held at the Carpenters Apprenticeship Training Facility on the West Side, where each year about 450 students go through intensive training to learn the trade.
Vince Wright, training director for the Ohio program, said some students start the training straight out of high school, but the average age is about 25.
The facility, which was moved from the East Side four years ago, is one of four such apprenticeship facilities in the state. About 2,000 apprentices are going through the program in Ohio at any given time.