PASCO PROFILES: A CONSTRUCTION WORKER

Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 16, 2000

SCOTT MCILWAIN, a 41-year-old carpenter from New Port Richey, runs McIlwain Enterprises, a residential building contractor specializing in framing and trimming custom homes.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE PASCO? Although 90 percent of McIlwain's customers are in Hillsborough County, he has chosen to keep his office in Pasco for the past 22 years. "Why is my business in Pasco? Because it's close to my house. It's that simple."

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CONCERN OF PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD? McIlwain cites building safety issues, the shortage of skilled workers and the high cost of worker's compensation insurance. "It's tough to pay a person who doesn't have enough experience a decent wage. They can go to Publix and get a better wage."

WHAT SKILLS DOES IT TAKE TO DO WHAT YOU DO? He mentions common sense, a mechanical mind and the ability to see things in three dimensions. "To be a good carpenter and build a nice big house, you have to look at a plan and construct it in your mind, picture it in 3-D."

HAS THE BOOMING ECONOMY AFFECTED YOUR INDUSTRY? McIlwain said the booming economy, combined with a shortage of skilled carpenters, has allowed him to raise his prices. Some of his skilled workers are making $15 per hour. "There are more people calling now than before, but unfortunately we can't cater to that because we're locked into our old customers."

WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY IN FLORIDA? Although Florida is a non-union, right-to-work state, McIlwain said he foresees growing wages for carpenters. The building boom almost guarantees that. "I can certainly see in the next 10 years the average carpenter making $15 to $18 per hour easily."

HOW HAS THE COMPUTER REVOLUTION CHANGED YOUR JOB? He said the allure of computer fields has made the building trades less attractive to high school graduates. As for using computers on the job: "A computer can't build a house, it can only design one for you. Skilled labor will always be needed."

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