Shallow labor pool stalling some C.O. projects

Construction projects are stalling across the country, and Central Oregon is no exception to the struggle by many employers to find enough skilled workers.

“The tight labor market and shortage of people in the trades is really starting to affect projects,” Sisters Interim City Manager Rick Allen said Thursday. “It’s driving up costs. In some cases, it’s delaying their start.”

Several projects have been put on hold in Sisters because there’s not enough people to build them.

“We’re hearing from their consultants and from the builders themselves that because of the very shallow labor supply, in conjunction to the high cost of construction, they’re having trouble getting good bids to make their project work for them,” said Patrick Davenport the Sisters community development director.

A few projects on hold — a 92-room hotel near Pine Meadow Village, and a 22-unit apartment complex at Adams and Ash streets.

Long-time builder Ken Gertz said his line of work went through a recession, and lots of older workers retired, but no younger ones replaced them. He’d like to see schools encourage trades, instead of pushing degrees. He said it’s a great career many aren’t considering.

“You can have employees eventually, you know, start out at the ground floor, learn your industry and then expand from there,” he said. “A lot of guys do really well — I write their checks every month, so I know.” he

City officials agreed.

“There are not enough people that can swing a hammer, lay carpet and are willing to crawl under your house and fix a broken pipe. Yet they can make good money,” Allen said.

The imbalance between work and the labor force is expected to work itself out, but in Central Oregon, a relatively small seasonal construction window means time is precious.

“They want to get these projects done before winter comes,” Davenport said. “They usually can’t construct all year long. So it’s a race to get these projects going,”