Vernon building boom

Vernon contractor not surprised by recent survey

Feb 13, 2019 | 5:45 PM

A new survey by the Independent Contractors and Business Association found that 37% of contractors in the Interior are expecting more work than last year but many are still struggling to find enough skilled workers to get the job done.

Alex Matusak is the owner of LDR Construction in Vernon and says that he is not surprised with what the survey found.

” The industry right now is booming like I’ve never ever seen it in my entire life of being in the construction industry,” said Matusak.

” This winter, I have not even slowed down yet, I’m slamming right through the winter and that’s never ever been heard of,” he adds.

And the numbers prove it.

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According to the City of Vernon, building permit values reached $148 million in 2018 and that’s up 14 per cent compared to last year.

Despite the boom in business Matusiak says contractors such as himself are still struggling to find enough workers, and admits that it is stunting his business potential for growth.

He thinks that a lot of factors are involved with not being able to find workers but believes it has little to do with finding workers with the skills but more to do with the attitudes of the younger workers entering the industry.

” I think they are giving the kids the tools skills the functional skills about how to do stuff, that’s always a workable issue, the problem is the mentality of yeah you are going to have to put your time in. These kids are coming in with a fourth year carpentry ticket and a lot of their experience is on paper and not in the real world and just because they have that credation they want top dollar, and then they won’t work to get up to that top dollar. ”

He also believes government tax polices and society’s perception of the construction industry has hindered some people from entering the profession.

A link to the survey’s findings can be found here.