A new survey shows the skilled labor construction shortage continues in Arizona. Industry leaders are trying to put more high schoolers on the path to that career.

Seventy-five percent of Arizona construction firms in the survey by the Associated General Contractors of America say they have a hard time filling hourly skilled positions — jobs like carpenters, painters, and electricians. That's higher than the nationwide average.

The biggest reason for the labor shortage is that Baby Boomers are retiring.

Arizona Sundt Construction Manager Sean Ray said his company advocates for more Career and Technical Education, or CTE, programs in high school.

"We're just now, at least in the state of Arizona, CTE is starting to get a second wind and a lot of these are coming back," Ray said. "But we're really far behind. So the work's going to be there, are we going to have qualified people is going to be the main question."

The survey shows more than half of the 20 Arizona companies surveyed also increased pay to attract more skilled workers.