Labor shortage hurting housing starts

The National Association of Home Builders is reporting a shortage of skilled labor for the home building industry. There is a shortage of framers, roofers, plumbers, and carpenters. The shortages are worst among the states that have been the first to rebound...Arizona, California, Texas, Colorado, and Florida. Home builders are reporting delays, shortage of building materials, and even the need to turn down jobs. A side effect of the shortage is the higher pay being demanded by those available to work. Builders have been gradually raising prices with the median home price reaching $247,000 in March, up 12% from March 2011 as an offset to higher material and labor costs.