A shortage of skilled construction labor is impacting the bottom line for contractors, according to the first-quarter 2019 Commercial Construction Index report by USG Corp. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The labor shortage has made it difficult for contractors to meet schedule deadlines. Seventy percent of contractors are struggling to meet project deadlines, the report says.

Forty percent of contractors said they have had to turn down project offers because they didn’t have enough people to do the work. The labor shortage has forced 81% of contractors to require employees to do extra work, and 63% say it has increased costs for new work.

Survey respondents said the key to attracting new workers is to emphasize the potential for high pay, good benefits, potential for career advancement, and the chance to work with advanced technology.