The Rochester Home Builders’ Association says its members are being hit with a problem that’s also affecting the industry nationally: they can’t find enough workers to handle all the construction projects people want to build.
Association CEO Rick Herman says people looking to build new homes and remodel existing houses are facing significant delays because builders can’t find enough help. That means fewer homes built, and longer build times. Herman says they started noticing this about two years ago, with the biggest demand being for framing crews. Carpenters, masons and plumbers are also in short supply.
Joe Sortino of Sortino Properties says in a statement it now takes five months to build a house his firm used to finish in 90 days.
The Association says thousands of carpenters and home builders changed careers when the housing market crashed in 2008. Young people haven’t been going into the business. As a result, labor costs are rising and workers are in high demand now that the market has returned.