Case Study: Skilled Carpenter Shortage Impacts San Francisco Pier Reconstruction (2019)
Project Overview
• Name: San Francisco Pier 39 Reconstruction
• Location: San Francisco, California
• Year: 2019
• Project Size: $210 million
• Scope: Reconstruction of waterfront pier involving extensive timber formwork and concrete carpentry
• Lead Agencies/Contractors: Port of San Francisco /
Category of the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
• Skilled Trades Shortage
• Carpentry and Formwork
Summary of the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
The project faced significant delays due to a shortage of experienced carpenters specialized in heavy formwork for marine environments. High demand and limited specialized skill sets caused labor bottlenecks.
Root Cause Analysis
- Limited availability of carpenters skilled in marine formwork and treated timber.
- Regional construction boom increasing competition for skilled labor.
- Insufficient early labor market analysis and recruitment planning.
- Complex safety requirements further limiting labor pool.
Impacts Due to the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
• 2.5-month delay in formwork installation and concrete pours.
• Increased labor costs from overtime and premium rates (~$2.1 million).
• Delay ripple effects on subsequent finishing trades.
Corrective Actions Taken
- Partnered with union halls to increase apprentice intake for carpentry.
- Introduced targeted training focused on marine formwork techniques.
- Improved project scheduling flexibility to align with labor availability.
Lessons Learned
- Specialized carpentry skills are critical for marine heavy civil projects.
- Early labor market evaluation and partnerships with unions improve labor supply.
- Schedule flexibility mitigates risks from skilled labor shortages.
Audit & Prevention: Project Control Questions to Ask on Future Projects to Help Control the Situation
- Is there a clear understanding of the specialized carpentry labor needs?
- Are union partnerships and apprenticeship programs leveraged effectively?
- Does the schedule provide buffers to accommodate labor availability fluctuations?