Anyone else worried about construction jobs in their area???

[petrymom]

Hi-
I am needing to get this off my chest with someone. (thanks for listening in advance)
DH pours concrete for a living and has done so for the past 20 years. The first 16 years was residential and the last 4 is industrial with the union. His current employer lays their employees off in November or December. DH has been off since the first week in December. This is never a problem as we know he goes back every spring. He usually can pick up extra work from his previous employer in the winter too. BUT this year there was no extra work in the winter. Found out last week that the union employer isn't even sure there will be work this year. DH had 1 interview last week with another employer and really isn't having any luck finding anyone looking for help!!!
What bothers me is I am hearing that there is such a shortage of construction work from many people in the business, but nothing is being said on the news. Is this not as important as a manufacturer laying off his employees? Do these construction workers get lost in the shuffle???
We have come to the conclusion that if he isn't back to work by 5-1-06 we are putting our tahoe up for sale (bought last summer used before gas went up - BIG MISTAKE).

Just wondering - anyone else in this position too????

 

[Dan Murphy]

Stopping to give my best wishes, Petrymom, sure must be a huge concern for you all. I do hope things pick up and hubby is back working real soon.

 

[dmslush]

SO had built Steel Building for the past 8 years. The past 3 years have been on and off layoffs and never knowing from one season to the next if there will be work. Now that I am out of school and before our daughter starts college in 4 years, we have decided that now is the time for him to come off of the building and go to school for something will be a little more stable. So, at the old age of 45, he is going back to school this fall to be a teacher.

 

[tmt martins]

I'm also sorry for your family.

This is sad but as most Constuction companies have a small amoumt of employees (as to say a GM ) This does get pushed under the table.The other problem is that even with the Unions there is still a lot of illegals working on sights so this is another reason things don't get aired or reported.

Many places go through big renovations then get stagnent for a period .I hope this is just the case as 20 years is a long time to give something up and start over.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Has he thought about getting into new home construction?

I sell homes for one of the largest builders in America and we're throwing homes up like crazy here, in and around Houston.

ETA: Construction here goes on year-round, due to our temps.

 

[DVC Sadie]

Here building is booming all over and their are not enough workers especially in construction to fill the needs of our area. Have you all thought of relocating?

 

[Planogirl]

Has he looked into the coastal areas affected by the storms? Building should be picking up hugely in those areas if they haven't just yet.

 

[petrymom]

Thank you all for your responses.

You all have very good thoughts. In response to "am I there yet". He was in housing/residential for 15 years prior to uinon work. Would consider going back just to have a job, and used to work in housing when he got layed off other years, but housing is all but stopped here in NE Wisconsin. Too many spec homes and not enough buyers around.

We just talked about relocating to the south (huge step for us as all our families are here) but don't want to do any major relocating until I am out of school. I have 8 months until I can take my exam for LPN and another year and a half to finish my ADN degree and become an RN. Then, I think it may be possible to relocate.

No matter what, we will survive. Kids will just not do as many extras and not as much eating out.

Say a prayer that a job shows up!!!!!

 

[Servants of Evan]

The best of luck to you, your husband, and the rest of your family. It must be incredibly nerve-wracking to simply "not know" what is going to happen. My thoughts go out to you...

 

[Tiggeroo]

building is flourishing. But my dh is a union hvac/r mechanic. He has been working for a non-union shop without benefits for the past six months.
I truly believe the influx of illegal workers is creating an artificial price for work. Non-union contractors around here use alot of illegal Mexican workers. This enables them to bid jobs at a lower price. Experienced tradesmen with licenses and training like my dh don't stand a chance.

 

[drakethib]

If you guys are looking for work come down to Texas.

I work in the Industrial Sector and people are very hard to find right now. A few weeks ago I had to put together a manpower and wages forecast for some higher ups and there will be a manpower shortage for quite a while.

Non-Union work, but the money is good and should be for the next few years.

Pretty much the GUlf Coast is the same way.

Throwing good vibes and prayers your way.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Thank you all for your responses.

You all have very good thoughts. In response to "am I there yet". He was in housing/residential for 15 years prior to uinon work. Would consider going back just to have a job, and used to work in housing when he got layed off other years, but housing is all but stopped here in NE Wisconsin. Too many spec homes and not enough buyers around.

We just talked about relocating to the south (huge step for us as all our families are here) but don't want to do any major relocating until I am out of school. I have 8 months until I can take my exam for LPN and another year and a half to finish my ADN degree and become an RN. Then, I think it may be possible to relocate.

Hold on to my screen name and PM me if you're interested in moving to Texas. We have one of the best housing markets in America.

We are booming here! Granted, we don't have the HUGE market values that other states such as California and Florida are experiencing, but ours are steady and constant.

It really is a great state to move to. Not only that, but we have some of the best school districts in the nation, in case that's a worry.

The reason I say to hold on to my screen name, is I'm also a former real estate agent and I was born and raised in Houston. I'm not trying to sell you on where I work, but if you need info on relocating here, I might be able to help.

(ETA: I might be able to help gather some relo info for you, not be your RE agent. That came out wrong!)

Plus that, we are also involved in the rebuilding of the Gulf coast states, after our past horrible hurricane season. So, as others have mentioned, there is work down here.

No matter what, we will survive. Kids will just not do as many extras and not as much eating out.

Say a prayer that a job shows up!!!!!

I wish you the best of luck! I'm a firm believer in that when one door closes, another one opens.

 

[AllyandJack]

My DH is an electrical PM. He never had a problem....worked for same company for 5 years. He never had a layoff - not even for a day. Then, suddenly, the company shut down. He was hired immediately by another company that made big promises. Then they gave him the option - take a layoff or go to Chicago. No way he was going to Chicago. So, he took the layoff. He's non-union and was hired by an amazing company (the union has tried to take over this company many times and the guys usually laugh them out of the office since they can't compete with the pay and benefits this company offers). They paid for him to get licensed in another state and there are 6 projects in one state and 8 in the other that are due to start within the next year. We're in NH and MA. There is no shortage of construction work in this area. However, usually roofers and other trades that work outside slow down in the winter months up here - for obvious reasons.

But, I always worry now. Anything can happen and I'm just waiting for it to happen again. So, I feel for you. I think people just expect there to be layoffs in the construction industry since some of it is weather-based. It's just accepted practice.