It is the season of shortages, and the labor shortage is impacting the construction industry. 

Building Skills New York executive director David Meade says it started pre-pandemic and is still impacting the industry now. 

"I think there was hesitancy, certainly with the pandemic. I think that folks are going back to school. Schools are reopening so that's allowing for more opportunity for individuals to have a more steady work schedule right now,” said Meade. 

Now, the nonprofit is working to get more workers on construction sites, hiring workers like Darren Perez to fill vacant roles. 

"I started over four months ago. I'm a painter's helper but I do all the prepping, I'll sand the walls, doors, door frames,” said Perez. 

Meade says Building Skills New York connects nearly 400 people to construction jobs a year and right now there are hundreds of vacant roles they’re looking to fill. 

He says the nonprofit works with community organizations to help fill those roles. 

"Darren, we found him through Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation. We then connected him through one of our contractors who's building this site,” said Meade. 

As the nonprofit looks to alleviate the current labor shortage happening in the industry, staff say they hold weekly job orientations on Tuesdays and Thursdays.