I have hired plumbers, electricians and framers who have been clueless.

I have no clue why you say this other than a dislike for the President.As an investor, contractor, builder, remodeler here in the Tampa Bay region I can tell you that the "working class" like roofers, painters, carpenters, floor guys, metal framers, stucco, manufacturers, distributors, drivers, realtors, etc. are all doing very, very, very well thanks to the economic policies of this administration.If your definition of "working class" is simply retail or food service, those jobs are meant as stepping stones.

If you're not knowledgeable enough to know when to bring in your framer, your electrician, your finishing crew, and negotiate what you need to with them and hold them to account, then be prepared to be taken for a ride.Other than that to answer your original question, the key is to get references that can speak to their abilities and integrity.  

Locally, the other apartment builders have framers that are not performing very well either so I doubt they can help me very much.

We build profitable portfolios that employ handyman, electricians, framers, dry wallers, plumbers, roofers, cleaning crews and real estate agents.

I recently built a 4,400 sq ft shop on my property where I did the GC and paid framers, roofers, plumbers and electricians then I did the rest with cabinets, flooring, painting, compressed air system, air exchanger, trim, doors, baseboard, etc. 

I found my framer through word of mouth.

Good framers aren't cheap.

We broke ground last week and the house was completely gutted, roof torn off and we are preparing for the framers next week. 

I spoke with a framer I know and he said that it sounded like if could be a tear down.