Columbus, Ga., Construction Frenzy Driving Other Industries.(Originated from Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Ga.)

Mar. 7--An out-of-town construction company ran ads in five papers for three months to pull together a crew of 12-15 workers. A home owner trying to get a leaky skylight fixed was turned down repeatedly. Builders didn't have time to do such a small job.

That's how tight the construction labor market is in Columbus. The reason: Construction is booming, peaking at levels not seen since the mid- 1980s.

"Labor has their pick of anything they want," said Mike Grady, a Batson- Cook Co. site superintendent who advertised for help.

The West Point, Ga.-based Batson-Cook is remodeling Trust Co. Bank in uptown Columbus, helping build a health and human services facility on Talbotton Road and constructing an activity center at St. Mark United Methodist Church on Whiteseville Road.

By some reports, contractors are stealing workers from other companies to cope with the labor shortage.

"We don't try to hire people …