INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WOWO): Home construction in Indiana dropped about 10% to start 2018.

The Indiana Builders Association says 858 single-family home construction permits were pulled in January of this year, a 10% drop from December 2017 and about 10 less than in January 2017.

IBA President Pat Richard says while it looks like just a small decrease, a larger issue – the search for skilled labor – is currently facing the building industry.

Statewide, builders still see sales conditions as good, as home inventories in Indiana continue to be lower than average.