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DEPARTMENTAL NEWS
The Washington Connection
BY JIM HADEL, INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT AND WASHINGTON REPRESENTATIVE
Is Our Industry Experiencing a Shortage of Skilled Workers?
I
recently reviewed The Association
of Union Contractors
(TAUC) 2016 Union Labor Supply
Survey. The survey is a comprehensive
analysis of the current
state of the Union Construction
and Maintenance Industry. TAUC
commissioned the Construction
Labor Research Council (CLRC) to
conduct the analysis. This is the
second year that TAUC has commissioned
the study.
Respondents to the survey included
contractors, labor representatives,
owner clients and construction association
representatives. The survey
is quite extensive, covering the 14
crafts of the Building and Construction
Trades, and the primary focus
covers the following topics:
Exhibit 6.x
Exhibit 6.x
Exhibit 6.34
Union craft labor supply in 2015: Roofers & Waterproofers
Percent Percent of Sample of Sample
70%
70% Roofers & Waterproofers
60%
All Roofers Craft Average & Waterproofers
59%
60%
All Craft Average
50%
59%
50%
40%
40%
30%
30%
20%
20%
15%
10%
8%
15%
10%
4% 6%
4%
0%
8%
4% 6%
4%
0% -10% or -7% to -4% to -1% to 0% 1% to
-10% Greater or -7% -9% to -4% -6% to -1% -3% to 0% 1% 3% to
Greater -9% -6% -3% Shortage Surplus 3%
Shortage Surplus
3% 1% 1%
3% 1% 1%
4% to
4% 6% to
6%
7% to
7% 9% to
9%
10% or
Greater 10% or
Greater
• overall growth in construction
and maintenance work
opportunities (both union
and non-union)
• labor supply for union craft
workers overall and for the
14 specific unions, covering
recent history, projections for
2016 and apprentice levels
• time taken to fill union craft
labor needs
Exhibit 6.x
Exhibit 6.x
The study is quite lengthy and
too detailed to share in its entirety;
however, I want to share the results
specific to the Roofers and Waterproofers
craft labor supply portion
from 2015 and 2016, respectively.
In 2015, 33% of survey respondents
indicated that there was a
craft shortage ranging from 1% to
10% or greater. Another 59% indicated
that there was neither a short-
Exhibit 6.35
Union craft labor supply in 2016: Roofers & Waterproofers
Percent Percent of Sample of Sample
70%
70%
60%
60%
50%
50%
40%
40%
30%
30%
20%
20%
10%
10%
5% 5%
0%
5% 5%
0% -10% or -7% to
-10% Greater or -7% -9% to
Greater -9%
Roofers & Waterproofers
All Roofers Craft Average & Waterproofers
All Craft Average
11%
11%
-4% to
-4% -6% to
-6%
56%
56%
18%
18%
2%
2%
-1% to 0% 1% to
-1% -3% to 0% 1% 3% to
-3% Shortage Surplus 3%
Shortage Surplus
3%
3%
4% to
4% 6% to
6%
1% 0%
1% 0%
7% to
7% 9% to
9%
10% or
Greater 10% or
Greater
6
Exhibit 6.x
Exhibit 6.x
• The Journeyman Roofer & Waterproofer
70%