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Sunday, December 22, 2019

Prices for construction projects spike, likely due to labor shortages

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland — Some construction projects in Maryland are costing tens of millions of dollars more than original estimates, in large measure because of a lack of skilled trades in the region.

The increase in price for just two large projects at the University of Maryland? About $64 million.

“It was about 2014 when the labor shortages started appearing, first in the D.C. submarkets then in Baltimore a couple years later, then fairly prevalent throughout the state now,” said Maryland Center for Construction Education & Innovation President Bob Aydukovic.

He said that the labor shortages in Maryland, and nationally, can be traced back to the Great Recession of 2008 to 2009.

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15 comments:

Anonymous said...

University of Maryland received Federal money. They can afford it. Another building to has a notch in their belt. Don't care that they could reduce tution for students.

Anonymous said...

The labor shortage was cause because the left has been on a ruthless quest to convince young people that the only way get ahead in life is to get a university degree. Never mind that jobs in the trades in many cases pay the same or more without the accompanying debt.

SBJ

Anonymous said...

It has been said college is not for everyone; skilled trades pay well and are an honorable profession. Too bad many Americans do not seize the opportunity and ride the wave of prosperity through productivity. We need to eliminate the "entitlement" mentality.

Chris said...

But I thought that Maryland being a sanctuary state would have improved the workforce? So you're saying that even though we have taken them in we are still deficient in the workforce? It's almost like they have come here not in search of a job but for the free social programs that America provides them

TheRealRay said...

Bingo. Thank you...

Anonymous said...

2014. Peak Obama B.S.

When u give everyone free food and housing with money for crabs, booze and cigarettes of course no one will work. Now that they are being forced off the govt tit they want their standard of living to remain the same. Guess what? Maybe they need to learn the actual value of a dollar.

Anonymous said...

There is no shortage of skilled labor, just an excuse. If you hire additional unskilled it might increase alittle but you still wouldnt have skilled, so that reasoning dosent fly. Bureaucracy will ALWAYS spend ten times what it cost in the real world, so they can always justify needing and taking more. Keep in mind that it was recent news that UMD {and several other universities also} received this year over 100 million in foreign donations that they did not report. What foreign nation donates that kind of money and WHY?

Anonymous said...

SBJ is correct, there are good paying jobs in the trades, especially construction Unions such as electricians, pipe & steam fitters, carpenters, boiler makers, sheetmetal workers, brick masons, labors. All good trades paying livable wages with benefits for those willing to go out and physically work.

Jersey boy said...

First item, WE HAVE WASTED ENOUGH MONEY ON COLLEGES.
Second item, trade prices should be higher because fewer people want a job that gets their hands dirty. Simple supply and demand !

Anonymous said...

Yes because now there are Less Illegals to take the American
jobs, Thanks to Trump !!!!

Now employers have to Hire Legally !!! Quit Whining

Anonymous said...

ALL who hire Illegals should be Locked up & Deported with
them, then it will STOP !!! Quickly

Anonymous said...

I have to disagree 10:38, there is a shortage of skilled labor, but no shortage of unskilled.

Anonymous said...

Repeal the Davis-Bacon act

Anonymous said...

👍

Anonymous said...

Repealing the Davis Bacon Act only serves to help the contractors to keep more profits that the actual workers in the field are due. It does nothing to increase their standard of living