Labor shortage impacts Puerto Rico construction sector

Low wages and few benefits have driven Puerto Rican construction workers out of the territory and the resulting labor shortage is affecting reconstruction efforts. 

Daily El Vocero reported that local workers could earn up to US$30/h outside the territory, compared to US$10.95/h in Puerto Rico. Moreover, workers who earn more than US$750 per month become ineligible for benefits like health insurance or food assistance. 

El Vocero quoted economist José Caraballo Cueto as saying that the threshold must be raised or the labor shortage would continue.

Puerto Rico has 2,000 licensed civil engineers and only 20 graduated during the last academic year from Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico, El Vocero reported.

Meanwhile, architects, project managers, inspectors and accountants, among others, are also in short supply, Carlos Rodríguez, the president of the general contractors’ association’s local chapter told El Vocero.

“There is such a high demand in both the public and the private sectors that there is more work than people in the industry,” he said. 

This lack of talent is affecting infrastructure works, according to the head of the local concrete association, Pedro Ramos. “The process to start a project or continue one takes a long time because there aren’t enough inspectors to greenlight the works. Sometimes we wait up to two or three days while an inspector certifies,” he said. 

Picture credit: AFP