DOL: CNMI is short on construction workers

Construction workers are in demand but in short supply in the CNMI.

In a recent data collection done by the CNMI Department of Labor, there are less than a thousand construction workers in the Commonwealth.

“Internally, we sourced that from our workforce listing that is submitted by the companies,” CNMI Labor Secretary Edith DeLeon Guerrero said.

DOL said there are 839 construction workers on Saipan, 47 on Tinian, and 38 on Rota.

“That is an indication that we’re going to need more construction workers,” DeLeon Guerrero said.

She added that it is “obvious” that there is a shortage on island in terms of construction workers.

“That’s obvious with the amount of projects that are going on. Imagine being a contractor, you have, like, 10 projects on your hands. So how do you split your workers?” DeLeon Guerrero said.

“That tells us that there is a great demand for construction workers in the market right now because of the numerous construction projects that are going on, for example, the Best Sunshine project, and all the other projects that are coming up,” she added.

In the coming years, about 15,000 rooms are projected to be built in the CNMI.

Best Sunshine International, Ltd. alone said it would need about 2,000 workers for the construction and completion of the upcoming Grand Mariana Casino & Hotel Resort in Garapan.

Aside from new constructions, many homes and establishments are still in need of rebuilding after the destruction of Typhoon Soudelor.

According to DeLeon Guerrero they will use the data to build evidence for the Covenant Sectiion 902 talks.

“We will use that number to build the evidence also for the 902 conversations because obviously the employers are petitioning for more employees. We need to provide the data,” DeLeon Guerrero said.

High rates for workers

Because of the high demand for workers in the construction industry, many are jacking up their per hour rates rates to supply workers.

“I get a lot of calls from other contractors expressing concern why are these construction workers charging so much beyond the minimum wage and so forth and I said, well it’s a matter of supply and demand,” DeLeon Guerrero said.

She added that the government can’t do anything about the high rates of construction workers on island. The DOL will come in play only when the rates for workers go below the state minimum wage.

“There’s no restriction there as a business to up the charges. You’re in need of service, so therefore they can call the shots in terms of how much the contract will cost you,” DeLeon Guerrero said.