The shortage of building inspectors in Oregon is causing major disruptions to the state’s housing development plans, leading to construction delays and threatening the achievement of housing goals set by Governor Tina Kotek. The state is aiming to build 36,000 new homes annually, but experts warn that the workforce shortage in key sectors like building inspections is creating significant barriers.

Oleg Foksha, a developer in Salem, highlighted the growing frustration caused by the lack of available inspectors, noting how it impacts project timelines. "A day wasted is sometimes a week or two behind schedule," Foksha said, emphasizing the ripple effect of delayed inspections on the construction process. These inspections are critical for ensuring compliance with safety standards, such as fire regulations and structural integrity.

The workforce shortage is being driven by a combination of retirements among experienced inspectors and a failure to recruit new talent at the necessary pace. According to Dan Carlson, an inspector and training program leader at Chemeketa Community College, Oregon has approximately 1,500 inspectors, but needs around 165 new inspectors annually to meet demand. However, the state’s training programs are falling short of that target, producing only about 50 graduates each year, leaving a significant gap.

“We’re training new inspectors, but it’s not enough to meet the growing demand,” Carlson said. “Time is money, but when you’re lacking in your workforce, the answer becomes very challenging.”

The shortage is putting a strain on local governments, with many facing difficulty in filling positions. In Salem, for example, the building and codes division has three open positions on its plan review team, and qualified applicants have been sparse. Al Rossi, deputy building inspector for the city of Salem, explained that the shortage of skilled candidates has made it difficult to keep up with the volume of construction projects. “It’s pretty slim pickings,” Rossi said.

In response to the workforce crisis, some of the state’s training programs are being restructured to make the path to certification more accessible. Chemeketa Community College is revising its curriculum to allow for short-term certificates, which would enable students to begin working sooner while completing the program on a part-time basis. Additionally, the state’s Building Codes Division has implemented a reciprocal program, which allows local governments to share inspectors when one area is experiencing a backlog of projects, but Salem has not yet adopted this strategy.

Efforts to address the problem extend beyond just training. Rebai Tamerhoulet, former building official for the city of Salem and now with the Oregon Home Builders Association, suggested making programs more accessible by providing more scholarships and offering apprenticeship opportunities similar to other trades. “We need new ideas to train inspectors and plan examiners,” he said. “We also need more investment in community college programs to produce the inspectors and plan examiners that are in high demand.”

Despite these challenges, there is hope that the state can improve its workforce in time to meet the housing needs of its growing population. By creating more flexible training options, increasing awareness of the profession, and boosting recruitment efforts, Oregon may be able to build a more robust pipeline of inspectors and ensure the timely completion of its ambitious housing development goals.

“This is the first time in my life that I look forward to coming to work every day,” said Rossi, who finds fulfillment in being part of essential projects like the ongoing work at the Oregon State Capitol. If the state can address the inspector shortage, it may help ensure that projects like this—and the larger housing efforts—move forward smoothly.