Almost all construction companies in Texas have jobs they are struggling to fill. According to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, 88% of companies in Texas have open hourly jobs; 55% have available salaried jobs.
Of those companies, 100% have said they have had trouble filling open jobs for bricklayers, glaziers, installers, ironworkers, painters, and roofers.
"Construction has been struggling for many years, now, to attract enough workers and to convince guidance counselors and parents construction is a high paying career with a great advancement track," says Ken Simonson, chief economist at the Associated General Contractors of America.
Of companies with open jobs in Texas, 70% say available candidates are not qualified to work in their industry; 64% say supplemental unemployment is keeping workers away.
Steve Sandherr, the organization's chief executive, says the federal government is now spending $6 on college prep for every $1 spent on career training.
"This funding gap for career training is one of the main reasons so many contractors have a low opinion of the current pipeline for preparing new craft construction professionals," he says.
Sandherr says companies are trying to adapt. In Texas, 76% say they have increased pay; 29% have given incentives or bonuses; 15% have improved employee benefits.
Companies also say they are working more closely with schools and other organizations to improve workforce development.
Allison Scott, head of construction at the software firm, Autodesk, says construction companies are also becoming more efficient. She says the industry has seen "promising trends" as a result of the pandemic. She says construction companies are spending more on workforce training and technology.
"The pandemic has not been easy on anyone. We know that, but it's also had a very interesting effect of accelerating digital transformation for the construction industry," she says.
Nationwide, 90% of construction companies have open hourly jobs; 62% have open salaried jobs. Of companies struggling to fill open positions, 72% cite a lack of qualified candidates; 58% cite extended unemployment benefits.
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