Dive Brief:

• There have been numerous warnings from industry organizations that a shortage of workers will be an obstacle to continuing the recovery in construction. The problem is serious enough in the Dayton, Ohio, area that officials held a job fair for construction for the first time ever.
• Companies came to the Dayton Convention Center looking for people to fill gaps left when so many unemployed workers quit the industry during the recession.
• Companies that came to the fair were looking for both skilled and unskilled workers, the executive director of the Home Builders Association of Dayton, Walt Hibner, said.

Dive Insight:

Montgomery County Job and Family Services Workforce Development put on the fair. Several industries in the Dayton area are growing, Assistant Director Heath MacAlpine said, and they need facilities. Local contractors are unable to put enough crews in the field to take advantage of the demand. The same is occurring in building homes for a growing workforce, officials said.