Construction work is on the upswing and the number of available jobs now far exceeds the number of qualified personnel available to fill them. This labor shortage is one of the top concerns for builders this year. The recession of 2008-2009 forced many who worked within the trades to turn toward new careers and discouraged younger generations entering the workforce from considering a path in construction. The Wall Street Journal reported that the number of construction workers aged 24 and younger declined 30% between 2005 and 2016. Now, in the booming economy of 2019, skilled craftsmen and construction-savvy professionals are in high demand. Here are a few strategies that companies can implement to find the employees they need, develop their skills and reduce costly turnover. Appeal to students Construction work and the building trades have historically carried the misguided stigma that working with your hands and pounding nails is for…