Local construction jobs in high demand

BOONE COUNTY, Ky. (Perry Schaible) - Leaders of the Homebuilders Association of Northern Kentucky say there is a major workforce development problem in northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati area.

But, this is also a chance for a person looking for a new career with lots of opportunities.

The last U.S. recession lasted for 18 months from December 2007 to June 2009.

During that time, the construction industry lost a number of workers who were laid off, quit, or simply moved on.

Brian Miller, Executive Vice President of the Homebuilders Association of Northern Kentucky says , "Now that the recovery is here and building is coming back, we are at a real loss for a lot of workers."

A study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for Greater Cincinnati shows the industry needs to increase the job count while still covering for the loss of trades professionals.

"To cover the amount of people that are leaving our industry, 2% every quarter, we need to train about 46,000 people. I don't think we're equipped to do that throughout Greater Cincinnati."

Industry leaders say it's an opportunity for young folks or those who want a new career, to advance quickly.

Brian Miller says they're getting calls from companies every day.

"They literally can't find enough people to work. We're getting calls for carpenters, plumbers, electricians, masons, on down the line. Major building companies now are relooking at the way they deal with subcontractors. They're trying to foster them. There are new job retention programs."

It's a problem Jim Cutter, owner of Cutter Construction, has been working to overcome.

"We obviously don't want to over-commit to customers, but when we make a commitment we find a way to get it done," Cutter said. "It just puts a lot of pressure on the shortage of people that we have in our industry."

Part of the solution, a new job training partnership between the Enzweiler Building Institute and Boone County High School.

Forty-eight high school students will take part in traditional trades training during the school year. After that, they'll move into the co-op program and eventually enter the workforce right after graduation.

"If college is not for them yet, then this is a wonderful opportunity because the apprenticeship can train them to where employers will employ them quickly. They can work and go to school at the same time."