LABOR SHORTAGE:
98 percent of NC contractors are having
trouble finding qualified trades workers
North Carolina Construction News staff writer
A widespread labor shortage is pushing up construction
through most of the country, the Associated General Con-
tractors (AGC) of America and Autodesk reports in a survey,
and the problem is especially acute in North Carolina.
2018 Workforce Survey Results
North Carolina Results
Total responses: 65, but number varies by question. Percentages are based on responses other than “Don’t know”
for each question.
1. In the next 12 months, do you expect your firm will hire additional or replacement:
Yes, for expansion
100% 90%
Yes, for replacement only
2% 9%
No 13%
19% 8%
34% 80%
17% 70%
60% 50%
40% AGC-Autodesk workforce survey results
for North Carolina
On a national level, “What was striking was how uni-
versal the difficulty was filling craft positions,” AGC chief
economist Ken Simonson told reporters in a conference
call. “Now they’re saying no, our bench is empty."
Simonson said the construction industry is investing in
more advertising and workforce training and seeking
more government funding as it tries to attract more work-
ers. It is also pushing for immigration reform that encour-
ages skilled workers to be allowed legally to enter the
U.S. “You can’t just call back someone who was laid off a
few years ago,” Simonson said. A challenge is educating
prospective workers that construction isn’t a “dirty, dead-
end career."
Some construction workers can earn six figures a year
without a college degree, based on federal average wage
data, AGC reported.
23% 89%
79% 63%
30% 43%
20% 10%
0% Hourly craft personnel
Hourly office personnel
Salaried field personnel
Salaried office personnel
2. How would you describe your current situation in filling salaried and hourly craft positions?
98% We are having a hard time filling some or all
positions 72%
2% 5%
We are having no difficulty filling any positions
0% We have no openings for positions
23% 0%
10% 20%
Craft 30%
40% 50%
60% 70%
80% 90%
100% Salaried
An incredible 98 percent of the state's contractors said
they "are having a hard time in filling some or all positions"
for business expansion. And a significant majority (72 per-
cent) are having trouble finding workers for "replacement
only". Nationally, the survey shows that 80 percent of 2,552
U.S. construction companies indicate they are having diffi-
culty hiring construction workers. This is an increase from
70 percent in 2017.
The labor shortage is especially severe for sheet metal
workers, roofers and drywall installers, where 100 percent
of the businesses surveyed say they have found it is com-
paratively difficult to find workers from last year. The labor
shortage is less acute for salaried positions, but 57 per-
cent say they are having trouble finding project managers
and superintendents.
CHARLOTTE | CHARLESTON | COLUMBUS | SARASOTA | TAMPA | TOLEDO
Al Windle • 704.945.2176 • awindle@slk-law.com
The North Carolina Construction News — Fall 2018 — 3