National Shortage of Construction Workers

A recent article on the Tucson.com website visits the increasingly visible issue of a national dearth of carpenters, electricians, plumbers and laborers needed to build the homes and commercial buildings of the US.

As with other commentary on this problem, the contractors mention the things being done, and that should be done, to encourage workers to enter the construction industry. Yet nowhere in the article is it suggested that wages for these craftsmen be increased or working conditions be improved, the two things most likely to spur an increase in interest in the field. The same viewpoint is expressed here.

Economist Scott Sumner speculates on wages and other factors in this essay but doesn't approach the issue of working conditions, as outlined here.

The fact of the matter is that if the construction industry wants to fill all of its available job openings it will have to compete with other occupations in wages and conditions.