Is there a labor shortage? I don't really think so. I think there is a shortage of people who are willing to work. People that take easy jobs, and then complain about the money they make, and the people they work with, etc. People that get the easy college degree, and end up selling cell phones.
I know lots of building contractors, and similar trades, that are desperate for help. They pay well, treat employees well, and are always hiring. Because people are not willing to put in the time and hard work needed to get very far in construction. The state could support several hundred more plumbers, but the aprenticeship program requires four years of work and college level courses. You will not get offered an aprenticeship until you have proven that you are willing to work for it.
I look at the Job service web page all the time, and there are plenty of jobs. Many of them are readvertised every couple months, which tells me whoever was hired didn't work out. Alot of them are entry level jobs, you have to work at it to get anywhere. People just don't seem willing to take a low wage and actually learn something for a while.