The overall housing market is strong, but sales have outpaced home construction, creating a growing supply-chain bottleneck. A lack of skilled labor is a key factor limiting home construction and an increase in housing supply.

The U.S. residential construction industry employs nearly 3.1 million workers according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, including both builders and specialty contractors. Still, that's not enough to meet demand. The number of open construction jobs nationwide currently averages between 300,000 and 400,000 a month, according to a report by the Home Builders Institute. "Attracting skilled labor will remain a key objective for construction firms in the coming quarters," the report concludes "and will become more challenging as the labor market strengthens."

Tips for finding workers

If you are one of the many companies out there struggling to find workers, here are some tips to help you hire the right construction employees for your needs.

1. Start from within. Begin your job search by looking at your own staff. Do you have current workers or tradespeople you can train to fill vacant, more skilled positions? This is a great way for your employees to advance their careers, and it can help your company by reducing the amount of time and resources spent looking outside your company for new employees.

2. Create clear job descriptions. To attract construction workers and tradespeople, it's important to clearly articulate your company's needs and what they can expect. Write straightforward job descriptions that spell out the specific job duties for the position and the desired skills and qualifications. Highlight employee benefits and express your company's culture and mission.

3. Post on multiple job boards. Now that you have a well-crafted job description in hand, post it on a variety of job sites to attract the widest possible audience. Popular job sites include Indeed, Monster, LinkedIn and Craigslist. Posting on industry-specific job sites such as iHireConstruction and ConstructionJobs.com can help you find candidates for more skilled positions.

4. Reach out on social media. Social media is a great way to reach out to perspective employees, especially younger workers. According to Pew Research, 84% of U.S. adults aged 18-29 are regular social media users. If you don't have a presence on popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, establish one. By frequently posting engaging content, you can educate potential employees about your company, your industry and potential career opportunities.

5. Offer training. Reach out to local institutions where you are likely to find good candidates. These include high schools, community colleges, trade schools and technical schools. Offer internships or apprentice programs to train new employees in the skills they (and you) need and demonstrate to them how rewarding a career in the building industry can be.

6. Embrace technology. As the labor pool gets younger, technology becomes more important. Younger people have grown up using technologies such as tablets and smartphones. Builders who integrate these technologies on the job site have a better chance of hiring and retaining these workers. Accompanying apps can also help you with tasks — such as estimating, planning and scheduling — that can help you improve your operations and productivity.

Using these tips, you can connect with the right employees that can help your business thrive now and in the future.