Construction backlog has builders upbeat, but workers are hard to find

Construction companies intend to hire more people in 2019 to meet a growing demand for building projects. That’s according to a recent survey of more than 1,300 contractors by the Associated General Contractors of America, in which 79 percent of respondents said they plan to expand their payrolls this year. Compared with previous surveys, that’s up from 75 percent of respondents in 2018 and 73 percent in 2017. But there are plans, and then there’s reality. According to the most recent survey, 78 percent of contractors are also having a hard time finding workers to fill open positions.