By Gabriela Rico | Arizona Daily Star
The recovery in the local construction industry could be dampened by a shortage of skilled workers, pushing up the price of commercial and residential developments, officials say.
After six years of a virtual hiatus in construction activity, many electricians, masons and plumbers moved on to other lines of work or locations.
“We are very aware of the challenges for the builders in finding skilled workers,” said David Godlewski, president of the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association. “It is the looming issue.”
There has been “tremendous recovery” in the housing market in the past 12 months, with home prices rising by about 17 percent, said Ginger Kneup, a local residential market analyst and owner of Bright Future Real Estate Research LLC.
