MCAA Regional Report, Region F

Words: Justin Breithaupt, Al Slattery, Rob BarnesArkansas - Rob Barnes
Louisiana - Justin Breithaupt
Oklahoma - Al Slattery
Texas - Rob Barnes

Workforce Development

Arkansas

No Report

Louisiana

There are no formal training programs, union or non-union, at this time. Mexican workers are hit or miss for finding qualified bricklayers.

Oklahoma

We are still suffering from the shortage of skilled workforce and have started placing a much stronger effort on retaining our existing workforce. The workforce unemployment rate has dropped from 3.4% to a record low of 1.4%, our lowest rate since 2008. Even with this information showing the need for training the training programs which were run by the trade schools in the State, dropped from 10 to 13 programs a decade ago to only 3 programs left in the State at this time. The Union Training programs for this area are nonexistent at this time.

Texas

The frustration created by the lack of skilled workforce is still prevalent throughout the State. Many members are participating in Local Training Programs and In-house Training Programs. Local Associations and Individual Contractors are participating in Career Days trying to convince High School and Community College Students to consider a career in the Construction Industry and more specifically the Masonry Industry.

Economic Conditions

Arkansas

No Report

Louisiana

There is a fair amount of both private and public work at this time. Work is fairly easy to come by. The rebuilding along the Gulf Coast remains Federal Government driven and it is very difficult to deal with.

Oklahoma

2018 turned out to be a very good year for the Masonry Industry in Oklahoma as a whole. The biggest factor was the School Bonds that were approved by the area in 2016-2017. The City of Tulsa, Oklahoma provided a large City Park Project that saw 5 different Mason Contractors performing the work on this project which incorporated 300,000 tons of natural stone. Also, Oklahoma City had several high-profile projects which will continue into the new year.

Texas

The North Texas construction market has remained strong and appears to look strong for the near future. The residential market for North Texas remains strong with demand for new apartments and single-family homes continuing with Corporate Relocations continuing in our area. In South Texas the Commercial and Institutional Construction market has transitioned from rebuilding from Hurricane Harvey to New construction and we have seen better growth in 2018. The residential market remains strong with the rebuilding of hurricane damaged areas and new construction markets.

Competition

Arkansas

No Report

Louisiana

The quality of the masonry construction has suffered from the influence of outside contractors who were not qualified to perform the work. They came into this market and used the federal system to get work and perform with unqualified workers and with little regard for proper construction standards because of the push by the Feds to rebuild the Gulf Coast area.

Because of bricklayer shortages, we now also have more General Contractors who have decided to self-perform the masonry section of a project and in doing so have lowered the quality of the masonry work and created a more difficult marketplace for the legitimate masonry contractors.

Oklahoma

The Masonry Construction markets in Oklahoma remain very competitive with numerous contractors from other states in the competition for our projects. With this heavy competition from outside contractors, we have had to work much harder trying to retain our existing workforce.

Texas

The Competition in the entire State remains very high. We are now seeing the Drywall / Plaster / EFIS and Waterproofing contractors migrating into and becoming competition for the adhered thin wall masonry and stone projects. With the continued manpower issues and the lower wages paid in those trades we are now losing many projects to these other crafts. The Federal Governments unwillingness to resolve the immigration situation has cost this region at least 40% of the construction workforce.

Safety

Arkansas

No Report

Louisiana

OSHA is much more present on job sites this year.

Oklahoma

No Report

Texas

Safety training has become a must in our area. The General Contractors are requiring an “Dedicated Certified Safety Director” onsite if you have 25 or more employees on the jobsite. Also, most General Contractors are insisting that your employees have a minimum of 8 hours “Certified Safety-First Course” before they enter the jobsite. Furthermore; all projects are requiring drug and background test that are not older than thirty (30) days prior to them starting on their project.
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