Dear Editor,
I suppose I’m one of the lucky ones who knew when I was a kid what I wanted to do career-wise. I just liked destroying stuff with a hammer. Whenever my parents updated the furniture in our Ulster County home, I liked breaking up the old furniture and making something new out of it.
My deconstruction hobby became my profession, reconstructing and building new homes. For more than 18 years, since I was fresh out of high school, I have managed my own construction business as a full-service general contractor throughout Ulster County, including in Accord, Kerhonkson, Woodstock, Hurley, and Stone Ridge.
I’ve managed to survive the ups and downs of the economy, often relying on temporary workers or part-time employees to get the jobs done right. But one thing I know for sure: I would be doing a lot more business if I could find more workers. I am turning down two or three jobs a week – major renovation projects on kitchens and bathrooms or new construction – because I simply do not have the manpower.
And it’s not just me that’s having a hard time finding workers. Here in the Hudson Valley, I see construction labor shortages every day. Plumbers, licensed electricians, heating and air conditioning and support personnel they need, are in short supply. The construction industry is not alone. Agriculture is a major part of our economy in upstate New York, and here in Ulster County, we are a magnet for tourism. Located just 90 minutes from Manhattan, visitors come all over the world to see some of our natural beauty and hike some of the best trails in the country while enjoying our many breweries and farm-to-table restaurants. But these local businesses are struggling. It’s just a fact that hotels, restaurants, bars, spas, and other service industries are looking for employees. And no one knows where to turn for help in finding new hires.
But there is a solution that would help other employers and small business…
Read the full article here