Single-family home construction fell to a three-month low in June, which is usually the busiest time for homebuilding. Even building permits are not showing signs of robust growth. Builders claim there is good demand, but they complain they’re handcuffed by a lack of skilled labor to build new homes.
The builders’ industry trade group calls the incidence of labor shortages nationwide “surprisingly high,” given the fact that homebuilding has barely recovered from its 2008 crash.