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

  1. Partnered with union halls to increase apprentice intake for carpentry.
  2. Introduced targeted training focused on marine formwork techniques.
  3. 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?
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