[DubiousPusher]

Population growth has been lower but construction levels have been lower still. This is not speculation. It is fact.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/14/america-is-short-more-than-5...

The only parts which are speculative are why. There is consistently lower workforce participation in construction though, that is also a fact.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/construction-industry-after-r...

I'm glad the builders in your area have been able to work consistently. I would guess that they are likely riding a trend of a decreasing number of builders who are increasingly professionalized and technologized their operations. Regardless, that is an anecdote and the statistics paint a pretty clear picture.