Sundt Construction is looking to hire several hundred craft skilled workers by the end of 2017 in an effort to add more workers to transportation and industrial projects across the state, according to a spokesman.
The Tempe-based contractor is hosting a job fair on Friday to add skilled workers to projects in Mesa, Gilbert, Maricopa and Tucson, Sundt announced in a statement.
Finding skilled workers has been a concern for many in the construction industry. Many skilled workers left the state after the recession, and are still trying to fill available positions to keep up with demand, according to ASU Economists Lee McPheters and Elliott Pollack.
The growing number of retiring baby boomers, and less millennials going into the skilled construction workforce has lead to the dearth of skilled workers in the state. Arizona has also been one of the slower states to recover from the recession, finally recovering lost jobs in March.
AZRE also looked at how Arizona could recoup its skilled workforce in March. Nationally, construction growth is positive, but the workers who left Arizona after the market crash have yet to return.
There are many initiatives, both in the construction industry and the education space to attract high schoolers and others into skilled trades across the state.
The Arizona Builders Alliance is looking to boost its outreach efforts to high school students in the coming months, as the Alliance announces new board members.
Sundt is looking to fill positions that include heavy equipment operators, laborers, pipe layers, grade checkers, water truck drivers, finishers, carpenters/form setters, concrete laborers, ironworkers, pipe fitters, welders, mechanics, lube men and dirt and pipe foremen.
The contractor is hosting its job fair at the Center for Craft Excellence at 2630 S. 20th Place in Phoenix.
Erin Davis contributed to this report
