Construction jobs always seemed to be hiring, but the truth is that they can't seem to find enough skilled tradespeople.
Stats released by the Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin shows 74% of area construction companies had difficulties hiring this year.
Luke Shantz, president of Arcadian Projects, says part of the problem is key decisions being made in local schools.
"A couple of decades ago, kids were being pushed into different programs, like computer science and different things in school, and the trades and the shops were basically closed up. The interest wasn't there and they were driven into different directions, and we're feeling that pain now a couple decades later."
The lack of students going into the trades over the last couple of years is now having its effect, and it's poised to get worse as baby boomers start retiring and schools just catching up to train students.
Workers that have been hired are now stretched thin between the industries.
Construction contracts are more frequently being placed on hold as workers are contracted to work factory jobs and vice versa. That means companies are taking things into their own hands by training people themselves, but it takes time for a person to be ready for the job.
Other avenues companies have looked into include hiring workers from overseas.
"We had interest in people wanting to come on board, but it's quite a process to go through the government," says Shantz.
