In this issue
3 4
LABOR SHORTAGE:
98 percent of NC contractors
are having trouble finding
qualified trades workers
HURRICANE FLORENCE
At least 35 killed
in devastating floods
6 7
NCDOT seeks emergency
contractors for
hurricane recovery
8 IN THE COURTS
California man pleads guilty
to $1.9 million Appalachian
State University construction
invoice fraud
11 NORTH CAROLINA’S TOP 10
CONSTRUCTION LAW PRACTICES
Leadership, innovation and
construction industry commitment
results in recognition and insights
12 13
Wall Templeton & Haldrup:
14 16
17 CAGC encourages members
to support Hurricane Florence
recovery efforts
Publisher’s Viewpoint
Mark Buckshon, publisher
Hurricane Florence will challenge North
Carolina’s construction industry like few events in
recent history, though I am confident that the
state’s AEC community will rise to the immense
rebuilding and recovery challenges.
Rebuilding, of course, will make the already
extremely tight labor supply even more critical.
Data from an Associated General Contractors of
America (AGCA) survey indicates that, before the
storm, 98 percent of contractors were reporting
trouble finding tradespeople. That near universal
shortage – among the highest in the U.S. –
obviously won’t improve when disaster recovery
work adds to the scarcity.
However, the cliche that crisis equals
opportunity and the industry’s spirt, determination
and hard work provides meaningful hope that
everything will work out well in the end; as
contractors and tradespeople experience some
relief when the Christmas season approaches.
Certainly, there will be some prosperity from all the
work to be completed.
This issue also includes our annual Top 10
Construction Law firms feature. It isn’t easy to pick
the Top 10, but I think you’ll find a representative
group of law practices that truly consider the
construction industry to be their highest priority,
working to represent their clients’ interests while
they help to resolve disputes (or prevent them from
occurring in the first place.)
As always, I welcome your comments and
suggestions. You can reach me by email at
buckshon@ncconstructionnews.com or phone at
(888) 627-8717 ext 224.
Solid experience and leadership
define construction law priorities
Young Moore and Henderson Attorneys
Jay Tobin and Bob deRosset
focus on knowing clients and
construction industry in resolving
legal challenges
New rules on renewing
and canceling your Notice
to Lien Agent
PROJECTS AND
OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATION NEWS
2 — Fall 2018 — The North Carolina Construction News
North Carolina Construction News (NCCN) is distributed
throughout the Carolinas construction industry.
NCCN is circulated on a controlled circulation list to
qualified readers including members of most major con-
struction associations in the Carolinas. The magazine is
supplemented by a weekly e-letter which reaches more
than 4,000 industry leaders each week.
For information contact:
Chase, Phone: 1-888-627-8717 ext 212
chase@ncconstructionnews.com www.ncconstructionnews.com. ISSN 1940-3682.
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