Construction contractors in Wyoming are struggling to find enough workers.
Wyoming Construction Coalition President Josh Carnahan says energy development -- particularly oil -- is fueling a rapid rise in construction jobs around the state.
“It impacts prices because we need to recruit employees to come in and do the work,” Carnahan says. The only way on a short term to attract employees is pay them a little higher and offer them a little better benefits.”
After taking a nosedive during the recession, the number of construction jobs is almost back up to 2008 levels, but the number of workers has fallen by 25 percent.
Carnahan says that that means construction companies have to pay to attract workers and that those costs are being passed along to developers.