• Almost three-quarters of general contractors replying to a McGraw Hill survey said they think there will be shortages in some parts of the construction workforce by 2014 if the recovery continues. Issues vary by company size and region.
• For the smallest firms, skilled tradesmen laid off in the worst of the downturn may have found other careers that they are reluctant to abandon because the pain is still fresh in their memories.
• Companies may be light on knowledge at the top, too, as baby-boomer executives take their retirement packages and cannot leave their experience behind.

From the article:

For many firms, future work force strategies may not be top-of-mind. After all, construction unemployment in May dragged along at 14.2%—almost double the national average—according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, a recent survey on work force issues shows that more than 70% of general contractors expect work force shortages in design and construction by 2014....