Andrea Markey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 17/05) - The construction industry is booming in Yellowknife, but there is a shortage of people to do the actual building and wiring of the houses and office buildings.

Ron McKay, of K&K Contracting, is working to finish two homes in the Niven Lake area, but can't find enough people to help.

"We are booked up to February and have had to turn down work," he said. "We need at least two more labourers."

Along with John Brennan, McKay has operated the contracting business for eight years, "doing everything" including labour, electrical and carpentry work.

The pay depends on experience, but wages range from $16-$25 an hour for six days a week, he said.

After failing to find workers through word of mouth, McKay advertised as far away as Newfoundland and made arrangements to bring new workers to the North.

Making recruitment even more difficult, construction jobs are physically demanding and workers are exposed to all weather conditions. As well, the mines take a lot of local workers, he said.

The federal building under construction on Franklin Avenue is about three weeks behind schedule due to shortages of carpenters and electricians, said John Droog, area manager for PCL Constructors Northern Inc.

"We have had to make do with the people we have," he said.

There are between 50-60 people, including sub-contractors, working on the building.

Some people are putting in long days - up to seven days per week.

Ads in papers down south did little to help the problem: construction is "booming" all over the place.

"There is more than enough work, the biggest challenge is manpower," he said.

There is a void in the industry of skilled journeymen, and third and fourth year apprentices, he said.

The key to a steady workforce is to "take them through the winter," said Brian Baggs, owner of B&C Construction.

"People don't want to work seasonally so we try to keep them busy with indoor projects during the winter," he said.

Baggs has operated the company for 3.5 years and has had the same crew for the past 24 months.

"It's all through word of mouth - I never advertise the jobs," he said.