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BOOST THE TRADES

The rising costs of housing have become a growing concern for many people in the State of Florida especially in Sarasota and Manatee counties. While there are numerous factors that contribute to this issue, one of the main culprits is the lack of qualified workers in skilled trades. With the recent passing of SB1617, this shortage will increase. 

Traditionally, the construction industry has been the backbone of skilled trades. However, the current situation in the industry is not promising due to labor shortages. The reasons for this include an aging workforce, lack of vocational training programs, and safety concerns. As a result, many companies are struggling to find workers with the required skills to complete projects in a timely and efficient manner. This shortage of qualified workers directly affects the cost of housing. With fewer workers in the skilled trades able to build new homes, repair and renovate existing ones, the cost of building, repairing and renovating homes also rises. Consequently, the final cost of the house increases.

Moreover, the shortage of skilled workers in the construction industry negatively impacts the local economy. When builders and contractors can’t find workers locally, they either hire out-of-town workers or pass on the project, resulting in decreased employment opportunities. In turn, decreased employment opportunities affect the local economy, as workers earn less money which reduces their ability to purchase goods and services, leading to decreased demand for those goods and services. We, therefore, need more people trained in the skilled trades to reverse this trend.

This problem requires urgent attention and investment to ensure that we have sufficient skilled workers to keep up with the demand and to provide valuable lifelong career opportunities to our youth. 

Here at SMCRT we are utilizing our community connections and the expertise of our board to create a hub to connect employees to employers in the skilled trades sector. 

save the trades information