Are we facing a construction
workforce shortage? Not really
By BOB SHIPRACK
It seems every week those of us in
the construction industry are told we
face a dire threat in that we will have
fewer workers in the future.
Some claim the existing work-
force is old and cannot be replaced.
Organizations and governments are
putting money into “solving” this
perceived problem. Sub-standard
training programs have taken off,
which often do not prepare young
people for construction careers. Let’s
look at the facts vs. the myths.
Myth #1:
The construction workforce
is old.
Employment Department data
shows construction is the third
youngest sector of the Oregon work-
force. Only 14 percent are age 55
and over. Fifty percent are between
25-44. Any visit to a construction
worksite would verify this.
Myth #2
There are not enough young
people to take their place.
The State demographer gave me
these numbers: Actual decline in 18
year olds ended in 1986, then the
number began increasing, hitting
39,000 in 1992, 50,500 in 1998, and
54,000 in 2008. They expect a level-
ing out or a very modest reduction
(4,000) by 2012. Never in recent
history have we had so many poten-
BOB SHIPRACK
tial workers, and the number is only
increased by positive in-migration.
Myth #3
I cannot get any workers.
That depends. The Employment
Department just published “Will
Oregon Have Enough Workers?”
(available by calling 503-947-1204),
which details this issue. Throughout
the publication it stresses wages,
benefits, and training as keys to
drawing new workers and concludes
“... employers unable to provide
competitive employee compensa-
tion may face a serious shortage of
workers.”
The Union apprenticeship pro-
grams have had little trouble recruit-
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(Editor’s Note: Bob Shiprack is
the executive secretary of the Oregon
State Building and Construction
Trades Council and a member of
IBEW Local 48.)
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Automotive
’96 SAAB 900S alloy wheels, 4 each,
15x7, 15 spoke, 5 hole pattern, includes
center caps, all for $80. 503 661-6987
’94 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY van,
nice leather seats, 120k, $1,500 OBO. 360
835-8000
’94 CHEV PU, SWB, canopy, bed liner,
AC, PS, PB, CC, centerline wheels, 62k on
new Goodwrench motor, $4995. 503 285-
6842
JEEP ALUMINUM diamond plate below
door trims R&L sides, $45; pair CJ5 seats,
good cond, $45 both. 503 254-1087
’73 CHEV 454 std. block, crank, cleaned,
maged, malar heads, pan, new cam, .010
brgs, .030 pistons & rings, $700. 503 658-
6108
’01 CORVETTE Z06, black, run-flats, Bose
stereo, all the extras, mint condition, 27K
miles, perfect collectors car, $29,900. 503-
666-1811
’05 B400 MAZDA, 4WD, extra cab 30,000
miles, new oversized tires, exc shape
$14,400 OBO 503 266-5912 leave mes-
sage
’93 MAZDA MX6 $500, needs body work
and minor repairs, great interior. 360 574-
6264 or 505-460-7996
SPORTS BRA for 1989 Pontiac Bon-
neville, best offer. 360 574-6264
Housing
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• SSI - Disability Claims
Write or call for
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booklet and/or a
FREE
consultation.
ing people and, in fact, have appren-
tices and journeymen available on
the out-of-work list now.
Having seen the ups and downs
of our industry over the years, I am
familiar with how we get people in-
volved. It does not help as we enter
an economic downturn (recession?)
to say we need 35,000 new workers.
Employment figures show only a
2.8 percent increase through 2009.
Part of the problem is also the rise
of “workforce consultants” who
convince normally rational people
there is a huge problem and get well
paid for it — though provide very
little.
Building Trades unions are go-
ing through a strong period of
growth with a big increase in ap-
prentices and with training pro-
grams and facilities — funded at
millions of dollars per year
statewide by unions and their em-
ployers, which are among the top in
the nation.
We have always known that good
pay and benefits, training, and treat-
ing people fairly attracts and retains
construction workers. The union
construction industry has supplied
our customers’ needs for over 100
years. I think we are well able to
continue doing that. Next time you
hear someone echoing these myths,
show them the facts.
EE
R
F
Insurance
accepted/pre
authorization
required.
Labor-endorsed
Bob Main wins
Coos County seat
COOS BAY — Labor-backed
Robert “Bob” Main defeated in-
cumbent John Griffith in a non-par-
tisan election for Coos County
Commission, Position 1.
Main, the county assessor, was
endorsed by the Southwest Oregon
Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
He received 10,733 votes to Grif-
fith’s 9,384.
He is a former delegate to the la-
bor council and member of AF-
SCME Local 2936.
Griffith was chair of the com-
mission and considered a powerful
voice on Oregon’s South Coast. Af-
ter completing his term at the end
of 2008, Griffith will have served
on the three-member commission
for eight years.
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
ROCKAWAY BEACH house, 3 bed, 2
bath, sleeps 9, great amenities, minutes to
beach. 503 355-2136 or 503 709-6018
380 ACRES, FIELDS, pasture land, ju-
niper trees, $1000 per acre, terms. 541
468-2961
PINE HOLLOW reservoir, 3 bed home
w/garage, 1800 sq ft, very nice, view, lake
100 ft. $337,000. 360 737-1930
FISH/HUNT 2 bed, 1 bath mobile home
w/garage on Lake Rock Creek Reservoir,
112k. 541 544-2030
WARRENTON 3 bed, 2 bath, furnished,
sturgeon fishing is great and salmon sea-
son is coming. 1-949-300-1188
FOR RENT, newly remodeled 3 bedroom
2 bath home, 2 car garage, rv parking, hot
tub. Gresham call 971-221-8375
ROOMMATES WANTED to share clean
and sober house in Hillsboro, 100 yards
from Max line; call Don at 503-875-4977
Wanted
CROSS CUT log saws, slicks, double bit
axes, blacksmith hammers, planes, wood-
working hand tools. 503 819-3736
CASH FOR older oil paintings. 503 653-
1506
OLD WOODWORKING TOOLS, planes,
levels, folding rulers, chisels, handsaws,
slicks, Adzes, old leather tools, shaves, tool
chests. 503-659-0009
JUNK CARS, removal of unwanted cars
and pickups, cash for some. 503 314
8600
Sporting Goods
’05 CUSTOM HARLEY Softail, flat
black/redgraphics, all new, $12,000. 503
257-7390
’88 BIG FOOT CAMPER, 9.5 ft, kept un-
dercover, excellent shape, $5,000. 541
746-1928
’01 WW 26’ Toyhauler, 4kw gen, micro, 2
large bat awning, large tanks, many extras,
nice, $13,999 OBO. 503 720-7846 Dave
’93 WILDERNESS TRAILER, 19’, FSC,
double axle w/new brakes, good tires, tow
with 1/2 ton truck, $4,200 OBO. 360 225-
5108
’66 10’ ALASKAN CAMPER, 12v 110, wa-
ter, sink stove, it raises, it lowers, hydraulic,
ex cond, $1,175. 360 256-7810
’03 SUZUKI 650cc, Savage motorcycle,
blue/green w/manual, 5,000 mi, 50 mpg,
crash & saddle bags, sissi bar, $3,000. 503
621-3090
HYDROSWIFT BOAT, 14’, shoreline trailer
and 40 hp Evinrude motor, good cond,
$600. 503 723-9461
’99 HARLEY FXST custom, black, Mus-
tang seat, Tennessee fats windshield, lots
of extras,$11,000. 503-317-4611
’89 HI-LO CAMP TRAILER FSC, a/c,
awning, new tires & battery, leveling jacks.
exc.t cond. $5,995. OBO. 503-353-0434
’98 TAHOE T/T, 32 ft, w/14ft slide, hard
side exterior, duct furnace, A/C, rear
kitchen, front queen bed, sleeps 6, $8,900.
360-225-5976
’08 JAYCO 28’ travel trailer, slide out, 2
doors, walk-around queen bed, factory 2-
yr. warranty, $18,500; w/tow vehicle
$35,000. 503 491-5181
RIFLE MODEL US1903A3 Springfield
(Remington 30-06), new unfinished
sporterized stock,4x32 monoscope,
weaver mounts, modified bolt, $175. 503
236-1329
Miscellaneous
PARTING OUT Sparty texturing EQ in-
dustrial Wisconsin eng pumps and more,
$400 OBO on any parts. 503 253-4397
David
LOG CHAIN binders, (3), heavy duty, $75
for all. 503 254-3587
COWS FOR SALE, have been with bull as
of May 2. 503 538-9556
TROYBILT horse garden tiller, $800 OBO,
EZ-hoe tiller cultivator, $75. 503 775-7457
NEW HUGE dog house well built, $175;
200 tomato plants $1 each. 503 287-7622
NEW MAYTAG WASHER, heavy-duty top
loader, extended warranty, $380, OBO,
Garage access. 503 312-5119
UTILITY TRAILER HD, 9’x6’ steel bed with
tailgate, 8-lug axle with electric brakes,
$1,150. 503 829-9374 eves
JUNE 6, 2008