Construction industry workers weigh in on challenges of finding and retaining employees

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 8: Workers toss a sign over the 110 freeway that was ruined in an early morning fire that destroyed a seven-story apartment building under construction on December 8, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. The fire also damaged nearby high-rise buildings and shut down freeways, causing massive traffic problems for morning commuters. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

A new survey from the Associated General Contractors of America found that 70 percent of construction firms are having a hard time finding skilled workers like carpenters, bricklayers, electricians and plumbers.

A new survey from the Associated General Contractors of America found that 70 percent of construction firms are having a hard time finding skilled workers like carpenters, bricklayers, electricians and plumbers.

More than 1600 firms were surveyed across the country - 97 were from California. Most do public works, commercial, industrial and apartment construction (single-family home builders were not part of the survey). Seventy-five percent of the firms surveyed in the western part of the U.S. said they were struggling to fill construction positions, up from 71 percent in 2016. About 70 percent said they were still planning to grow their crews in the coming year to meet demand.

For more on this story from KPCC’s Andrea Bernstein, click here.

Guest:

Ken Simonson, chief economist for Associated General Contractors of America, who conducted the survey