The best of times and the worst of times have occurred in America for construction labor. With fluctuations in economic growth and the real estate markets, new construction has risen and fallen like a perpetual roller coaster, affecting millions of people who depend on the variety of construction work for their livelihoods. This article presents the highs and lows of construction labor in Saint George, Utah and makes some recommendations for how to navigate through them.
Factors That Affect Construction Labor
Many factors determine the job market for construction labor in Saint George, Utah: architecture and materials trends, stock market, city councils, available land for housing developments, costs of accessing utilities to the developing lots, supply of workers in the various construction trades, and the overall economy, fueled by less tax burden on small businesses. When small businesses are able to expand and hire more workers, more money is exchanged in both local and national companies for products and services, thereby stimulating a cycle of continued economic growth. Thus, more people are able and willing to buy real estate properties for both primary residence and investment.
Economic Recessions
The recession in the United States of 2008 burst the real estate bubble, which had brought eye-brow raising prices of homes from 2004 to 2005. Predatory lending practices by mortgage companies met with huge sums of payment defaults, and construction labor came to a screeching halt in 2008. This was noticeably seen in Washington County, Utah, where new housing developments froze in mid-project, leaving ghost towns of uncompleted construction. Workers across the construction trades had to sell off their tools, just to pay some bills. Many construction workers left the area to other American nooks and crannies in search of the anomalous region of more construction activity. Others shifted careers to more available job prospects, like the oil boom in North Dakota. It was, indeed, a good time for aspiring carpenters to get tools at bargain prices to be used when construction labor in Saint George would see an up-swing.
Supply of Construction Workers
With the large populous of immigrants who are happy and willing to work in construction to feed their families, contractors are able to get jobs done while paying low wages. This applies not only to immigrants but also to less -educated Americans who need work and are able to do the physical, general labor or more skilled trades with their hands. Not everyone wants an office job at a computer station. The low unemployment rate and strong demand for construction labor in Saint George enables people to find work, whether manual labor or skilled trades, such as masonry, drywall, plumbing, electrical, painting, carpentry, and others. The strong economy of 2017-2018 has created an abundance of construction jobs.
Economic Downturns
Workers involved in construction labor in St. George, Utah would be wise to prepare for economic downturns by securing a network of contractors who like them, by always improving their knowledge and skills, and by working professionally and punctually so that when the market softens, they are still in demand somewhere. Avoiding debt and having another industrial aptitude will help to shield them from having to sell tools and file bankruptcy.
Article By: Clear Content Marketing