Indiana Construction Growth Triggers Workforce Needs
INDIANAPOLIS - Indianapolis has become one of the nation's fastest growing markets for nonresidential construction. The FMI Corp. report, "Indiana Construction Roundtable Central Indiana Craft Labor Study Update," Sept. 2004, predicts that in 2005, Indianapolis market growth will ramp to a value of $8 billion for construction put in place - a substantial increase from $7.5 billion in 2004. This increased demand in construction is predicted to create a skilled craft labor shortage - 637 workers for 2005. And that figure looks to escalate to 6,185 by 2008.
"The construction industry's current skilled labor shortage is a nationwide concern," said John Rayburn, executive vice president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Indiana (MCAI). "Union labor in Indiana addresses that concern by providing the most effective education programs available, to help more skilled workers successfully complete apprenticeships and join the workforce."