Question:
If you have 3 or more years experience in the following
Commercial/Residential Construction Positions:
Project Manager
Senior Project Manager
Estimator
Senior Estimator
Superintendent
Foreman
Cost Engineer
Field/Project Engineer
Scheduler
Quality Control Manager
Purchasing Manager
Contracts Manager
Management Positions (President/Director, Vice-President, CFO/Comptroller)
Answer:
Even though the total value of permits pulled so far this year for
commercial, residential and remodeling construction in San Diego County is
below previous years, contractor associations are stressing that there still
are not enough qualified and skilled construction professionals to meet
current building levels.
"There's still plenty of work," said Gene Brokaw, vice president of the
Engineering and General Contractors Association (EGCA) of San Diego. A lot
of this work, he said, is within the infrastructure/public works sector,
where workload is steady despite the residential building slowdown.
Despite these opportunities, Brokaw said the industry is trying to train and
bring in new people because construction is a "dying trade."
George Hawkins, president and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors
(ABC) of San Diego, said recently on a nationwide and statewide level the
industry has been losing a significant number of construction workers.
According to the California Employment Development Department (EDD), the
amount of construction jobs in July 2006 statewide increased 1.4 percent
compared to the same period last year. However, the same data reports a
decline of 2,100 construction jobs in July 2006 compared to June 2006.
One reason for declines in the construction work force, which is unrelated
to the amount of building, is the retirement of baby boomers within the
industry, according to Tom Brown, president of the San Diego Associated
General Contractors (AGC).
The Construction Tech Academy, which is on the campus of Kearny High School,
had 387 students enrolled last year, with 75 of those graduating into the
construction industry. The secretary at the academy reported more interested
ninth graders this year than in the academy's prior years.
While the industry attempts to increase its total work force, the EDD has
already predicted the increase in jobs will occur. According to its
estimates, there will be 92,500 construction jobs in San Diego County by
2012, an increase of 16,100 jobs compared to 2002 figures.
Looking to the near future, the question looms: If associations do increase
the size of the work force significantly, will there be enough future
construction work for all?
According to Alan Nevin, California Building Industry Association (CBIA)
chief economist, the amount of single family permits pulled in the county
will continue to decline and by year's end will total 30 percent less than
last year. However, the multifamily permit totals could increase as builders
currently sitting on the fence may soon decide to proceed with previously
halted construction, specifically downtown.
But if they continue to sit on the fence, the result could be no new
multifamily projects starting after the first quarter of 2007, as all
multifamily construction currently underway will be complete by then.
"There is no question there will be a big hit" in residential construction
employment, Nevin said. But he added that the amount of other construction
sector work -- including remodeling, public works and commercial -- will
remain strong, which bodes well for employment.
