Two-Thirds of Contractors Struggle to Find Qualified Craft Workers

Words: Dan KamysAugust 31, 2016 — According to an industry-wide survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, two-thirds of construction firms are having a hard time filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce. Association officials said that many firms, in order to cope, are changing the way they pay and operate. New workforce measures are needed, they said, to improve the pipeline for recruiting and training new craft workers. Of the 1,459 survey respondents, 69% said they are having difficulty filling hourly craft positions. Craft worker shortages are the most severe in the Midwest, where 77% of contractors are having a hard time filling those positions. The region is followed by the South, where 74% of contractors are finding it difficult to get craft workers. The labor shortages come as demand for construction continues to grow. Growing demand for construction workers helps explain why 75% of firms say it will continue to be hard, or become harder, to find hourly craft workers this year. Because of the tight labor market conditions, nearly half of construction firms are having to increase base pay rates for craft workers because of the difficulty in filling positions. Twenty-two percent have improved employee benefits for craft workers, and 20% report they are providing incentives and bonuses to attract workers. Forty-eight percent of firms also report they are doing more in-house training to cope with workforce shortages, while 47% are increasing overtime hours and 39% are increasing their use of subcontractors. In addition, 37% report getting involved with career-building programs in local schools. Twenty-one percent report they are increasing their use of labor-saving equipment, 13% are using offsite prefabrication and 7% are using virtual construction methods like Building Information Modeling. AGC of America continues to urge Congress to reform and increase funding for the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, and make it easier to set up charter schools and career academies that teach basic construction skills. The survey was conducted in July and August. Click here to see the survey results, analysis of the data and regional and state-by-state results.
Managing the Modern Jobsite: How MSV Helps Crews Do More with Less in 2026
December 2025

On today’s jobsites, efficiency is becoming as essential as craftsmanship. Crews are working with fewer hands, tighter schedules, and greater pressure to deliver high-quality results without increasing costs. It’s a reality affecting everything from resid

Jeff Tew
Technical Talks
Read More
A Free Resource for Contractors: The Block Design Collective
December 2025

The Concrete Masonry Checkoff has launched the Block Design Collective (BDC), a national resource that provides fast, reliable guidance for anyone designing or building with concrete masonry. For contractors, the benefit is straightforward: better informa

Industry News
Read More
The Hidden Forces That Build America: Arching Action and the Tools We Trust
December 2025

Most people at World of Concrete can identify a CMU block from 50 feet away. Some can even smell Type S mortar curing from across the hall. But mention the phrase “arching action,” and you will see a surprising number of boots shift and eyes drift toward

Shayne Sanders
Technical Talks
Read More
Fireside Foundations: Crafting Holiday Fireplaces That Last All Year
December 2025

The fireplace holds a special place in every home, especially during the holidays. It’s where families gather, stories are shared, and the flicker of firelight creates

Jeff Tew
Technical Talks
Read More