Skilled laborers spread thin in Austin

​​​​AUSTIN – In the past six years the number of Austin building permits has increased more than 25 percent, according to city data.

During the same timeframe, the number of construction workers increased by more than 27 percent in the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Despite an increase in the number of overall workers, many construction sites are understaffed, namely with skilled laborers who must have specific certifications or licensing before they can perform work.

Dead time is a concern for developers and business owners alike. 

The increased time to find workers not only can set a project back by months—it also affects businesses’ bottom lines because they have to pay more to obtain workers.​