Case Study: Skilled Electrician Shortage Hampers Chicago Transit Tunnel Upgrade (2020)
Project Overview
• Name: Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Tunnel Electrical Upgrade
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Year: 2020
• Project Size: $300 million
• Scope: Electrical system modernization including tunnel lighting, signaling, and power distribution
• Lead Agencies/Contractors: CTA /
Category of the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
• Skilled Trades Shortage
• Electrical Work
Summary of the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
The project suffered delays due to a shortage of licensed electricians experienced in tunnel environments. High demand for electricians on multiple urban infrastructure projects constrained labor availability.
Root Cause Analysis
- Limited pool of electricians certified for confined space and tunnel work.
- High regional construction demand increased competition for skilled labor.
- Underestimation of labor needs during project planning.
- Inadequate coordination between contractor and subcontractors for workforce deployment.
Impacts Due to the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
• 3.5-month delay in electrical system installation phases.
• Increased labor and overtime costs (~$3 million).
• Delay cascade impacting project commissioning and opening schedules.
Corrective Actions Taken
- Aggressive recruitment campaign targeting electricians from neighboring states.
- Enhanced training programs focusing on tunnel safety certifications.
- Flexible shift schedules implemented to maximize labor availability.
Lessons Learned
- Skilled labor shortages in specialized trades require proactive workforce planning.
- Training for safety-critical environments is essential and time-consuming.
- Labor deployment coordination must be integrated with project scheduling.
Audit & Prevention: Project Control Questions to Ask on Future Projects to Help Control the Situation
- Are all safety certifications and specialized training requirements accounted for in labor planning?
- Has demand for skilled electricians been forecast against regional availability?
- Is workforce deployment coordinated to match project sequencing?