Developers and builders in Southeast Florida are worried about a growing shortage of qualified construction workers, reports SunshineStateNews.
In the past six months, Edward Ramos, who owns Ramos Builders in Cape Coral, says he’s worried that he’s facing a shortage of qualified electricians, carpenters, plumbers and drywall installers.
With housing inventories starting to dwindle because of a stabilizing housing market and investors picking up foreclosures at a quick clip, builders like Ramos say they fear a shortage of qualified workers could slow progress.
In Orlando, McGraw Hill Construction reported that permits filed for residential and commercial projects in Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties totaled $4.2 billion between January and November 2013, up 47% from $2.9 billion the previous year.
According to an annual survey by Associated General Contractors of America on construction-industry trends, construction activity is indeed picking up.