Construction Employers Add 36K Jobs in January, Hourly Earnings Rise

Construction employment increased by 36,000 jobs in January to the highest level since August 2008, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said a possible new measure being discussed in Washington that would invest an additional $1.5 trillion in repairing and improving infrastructure would both help the sector continue to add jobs and attract new workers.

“The construction industry has consistently added workers at nearly double the rate of the overall economy,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The outlook remains positive for further growth in the industry. But finding workers to complete all projects will be a challenge with unemployment so low overall and in construction.”

Construction employment totaled 7.1 million in January, a gain of 36,000 for the month and 226,000, or 3.3 percent, over 12 months. The economist pointed out that the year-over-year growth rate in industry jobs was more than double the 1.5 percent rise in total non-farm payroll employment.

Residential construction—comprising residential building and specialty trade contractors—added 19,000 jobs in January and 88,400 jobs, or 3.3 percent, over the past 12 months. Nonresidential construction (building, specialty trades and heavy and civil engineering construction) employment increased by 16,400 jobs in January and 137,200 positions, or 3.3 percent, over 12 months.

The number of unemployed job seekers with recent construction experience fell to 707,000 in January, down from 859,000 in January 2017, while the unemployment rate in construction dropped to 7.3 percent last month from 9.4 percent a year earlier. The number and rate were the lowest for January since the series began in 2000. Unemployment data by industry are not seasonally adjusted, and winter figures for construction are normally higher than they are for total non-farm employment, but these declines show how difficult it has become for the industry to find experienced workers, Simonson said.

Average hourly earnings in the industry climbed to $29.33, a rise of 2.9 percent from a year earlier. The economist noted that construction pays nearly 10 percent more per hour than the average non-farm private-sector job in the United States.

Construction officials said that a new presidential push to boost infrastructure investments by $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years would give a needed boost to infrastructure contractors who, according to construction spending figures released recently, have seen lagging demand compared to other market segments. Moreover, significant new and long-term investment in infrastructure would help encourage more people to consider high-paying careers in construction.

“Bringing our aging infrastructure back to a state of good repair will support short-term economic growth while making our economy more efficient and competitive over the long term,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO. “These new investments will also send a clear signal to new workers to consider careers in construction and the middle-class life those jobs support.”