MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Construction workforce shortages are causing significant project delays in Alabama, with nearly half of the state’s construction firms impacted by new immigration enforcement efforts, according to a workforce survey by the Associated General Contractors of America and NCCER.
The survey revealed that 90 percent of contractors in Alabama are struggling to fill open positions. Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, said during a virtual media briefing, “Construction projects of all types are being delayed here in Alabama and across the country because there aren’t enough qualified workers available for firms to hire.”
The survey highlighted that 83 percent of firms have openings for craft construction workers, and a similar share for salaried workers. Simonson attributed the difficulty in finding qualified candidates to a lack of investment in construction workforce training and education. He noted that 48 percent of firms reported candidates lacking essential skills or appropriate licenses…