Over the next year, 40 percent of single-family home builders intend to hire or contract skilled laborers, according to a national survey conducted on behalf of the Home Builders Institute by the National Association of Home Builders.
These hiring plans are dependent on region as 46 percent of respondents in the Midwest and West plan to hire while 39 percent of respondents plan to do so in the South, and 29 percent of respondents have hiring plans in the Northeast.
"The findings are another positive indicator for the recovery of the housing market and economy overall," says John Courson, president and CEO of the Home Builders Institute. "Our focus continues to be training workers now for these future jobs to ensure that shortages don't occur as home building accelerates."
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Despite the hiring plans, respondents are concerned about the training level of workers. In fact, 62 percent of respondents say they are worried about workers they want to hire needing training before they are ready to work.
"It is critical that workers are trained and job ready for expected hires, which is reinforced by the survey finding that having a certification or skilled trades training is a deciding factor for more than 40 percent of builders," Courson says. "Workers would be wise to be up to date on the latest building skills requirements by connecting with trainings and certification opportunities in their area."
According to the survey, specific trades are in highest demand from builders because of skills shortages. Among shortage of over 20 percent are painters, bricklayers and masons, finished carpenters, rough carpenters and framing crews directly employed by home building companies.
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