MIAMI—With massive transformation underway in key Florida metros, the shortage of manpower—specifically skilled labor—is becoming increasingly costly and problematic. A recent report from the Associated General Contractors of America sheds some light on the situation.

Construction employment increased in 245 out of 358 metro areas between May 2016 and May 2017, declined in 59 and stagnated in 54, according the ACGA. Association officials noted that construction employment gains in many parts of the country are occurring even as most firms report having a hard time finding qualified workers to hire.

According to the ACGA, one of the key reasons for construction workforce shortages is the lack of career and technical education programs available, particularly at the secondary level. New legislation to renew the federal Perkins Act, which funds career and technical education programs, would help by giving education officials new flexibility and funding to establishing construction-focused programs, the group reported.