Florida needs skilled building tradesmen

The Tampa Bay Tribune reports skilled trades workers has decreased from 691, to 317,400 since the building boom in 2005. Drywallers who made $5.00 per board were earning just $2.25 per board in 2011. Soffit installers who used to make $1.00 per foot were getting 70 cents. Skilled workers are mobile and will go to where the better paying job are. Now, both Georgia and the Carolina's are paying better. The third quarter of 2012 saw 1,537 home starts in Tampa Bay as compared to 6,600 in the third quarter of 2005 at the height of the boom. Builders are in a quandary as they try to meet competitive rates, offer longer working hours, yet still manage their cash flow to keep afloat. If the situation does not improve, there could be delays in new housing construction.