GARNER, N.C. (WNCN) — As new infrastructure projects break ground over the next five years the Triangle will be seeing a lot of asphalt deliveries paving the way forward for locally owned businesses.
“It’s a great thing. It’s a great thing for us. I’m hoping it’s going to put a lot of people to work, it’s going to get a lot more construction work out there” said Mike Stephenson with Paving Professionals.
Stephenson spent Friday afternoon overseeing a job in Garner.
Like every other industry in the country, finding the workers to do the work has been a challenge since long before the federal infrastructure bill.
“We’re really busy, it’s hard to find guys right now but we could definitely use a whole other crew — two crews,” Stephenson said.
Paving Professionals, Inc. used to get at least 50 applicants per job posting. Now they’re getting only one or two and some of those folks no-show the interview. And these are jobs that can pay $30 an hour with quarterly bonuses.
Workers are also going to be needed for airport projects, expanding broadband, increasing severe weather preparedness, public transit and the build-out of electric vehicle charging stations.
But even with enough people to do the job the supply chain also has to sort itself out.
Stephenson explained: “because there is a backlog across the board for a lot of things right now. Getting supplies is very hard. Certain jobs have certain materials we can’t get a hold of, we’re working with it. There’s a lot of changes being made on the requirements of projects to work with the supply chain. But it’s a struggle.”
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