Local companies face shortfall of skilled workers

With a 3.6 percent unemployment rate, the supply of skilled labor has become the No. 1 issue for some Manatee County companies.

In their quest to find and retain skilled workers, companies are offering competitive benefit packages, working with Manatee Technical College, using social media, and, in some cases, putting out help wanted signs.

“Right now labor is our absolute No. 1 issue,” said Richard Strauss, director of technical sales and marketing for GG Schmitt & Sons Marine Hardware, 7320 15th Street E.

Faced with a backlog of orders and the need to build a second shift, Strauss said his company is looking for about 15 workers, including polishers, welders, fabricators and more.

“I was at a conference in Washington, D.C., three weeks ago – the American Boating Congress. It’s where everyone from the marine industry gets together and talks to congressmen and senators, people like that, about what our biggest issues are: taxation, health care, regulation. By and far, labor is the largest issue we face and that is pretty much through the whole marine industry,” Strauss said.

David James, facility manager of Advantage Trim and Lumber of Florida, 7524 Commerce Place, has a similar need.

Advantage Trim and Lumber, which sources, manufactures and ships sustainably harvested exotic wood products, as well as repurposing locally harvested trees that might have gone to landfills or wood chippers, has a need for about 10 laborers.

Advantage has seen its workforce expand from about six three years ago to 35 now. Advantage is also building a second shift as it seeks to grow its business producing furniture-grade table tops as well as siding and decking.

“Our business is growing and it’s obviously been difficult to continue to fill that labor force. Right now we are looking to put a second shift on,” James said.

Keegan Hodges, a partner in Best Home Services, says his company makes it a focus to find and retain skilled labor – and does not struggle to find help.

“It’s all about making this the best place to work. Everything from our trucks to our facilities. You have to pay for the skilled labor and make it the best place to work,” Hodges said.

Best Home Services has a large sign in front of its location at 7216 21st St. E., advertising that it is hiring air conditioning service and installation technicians for $50,000-$125,000 a year with full benefits included.

Best Home Services expects to grow its bottom line by $8 million this year and has hired 62 people in the first six months of 2017, Hodges said.

Skilled manufacturing and construction trades workers are in high demand in Manatee-Sarasota, said Jen Zak, communications director for CareerSource Suncoast.

“Those companies are struggling to find the skilled workers they need. We have people coming in saying we need people right now,” Zak said.

The irony is that even though the unemployment rate is 3.6 percent, there are still thousands of local residents needing jobs, she said.

Strauss would be happy to have some of those idle workers join GG Schmitt & Sons, if they have the skills for the jobs building high-quality marine hardware.

“We lost a lot of our good, qualified technicians in the Great Recession,” Strauss said.

GG Schmitt and Sons has been working with Manatee Technical College to develop the curriculum to train workers in the skills it needs.

Strauss believes companies like his need to do a better job getting their message to potential future workers who are still in high school.

“We are working hard to build our workforce, and now we need to work hard to keep our workforce and to diversify,” he said.

This story was originally published July 9, 2017 at 8:30 AM with the headline "Local companies face shortfall of skilled workers."