Construction Jobs Increase in 35 States, D.C. between September 2016 Year-Over-Year

Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between September 2016 and September 2017, while 26 states added construction jobs between August and September as some state employment levels were impacted by recent hurricanes, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released recently. Association officials noted that construction employment in many parts of the country would have been higher if more qualified workers were available. “Contractors in most states still report they are busy and expect to stay that way for the foreseeable future,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for … Read more

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Nonresidential Construction Adds Jobs Despite Disruptions, ABC Says

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The national construction industry added 8,000 net new jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis in September, according to an analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors of a recent release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The nonresidential sector added 11,700 jobs for the month, which means that residential construction lost several thousand jobs. Nonresidential specialty trade contractors paced the segment, adding 8,500 net new jobs on a monthly basis. The construction industry unemployment rate, which is available only on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, remained unchanged at 4.7 percent. The nationwide unemployment rate fell two tenths of … Read more

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Dodge Momentum Index Declines in September

NEW YORK, N.Y. –The Dodge Momentum Index fell in September, moving 8.4 percent lower to 116.4 (2000=100) from the revised August reading of 127.1. The index is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. Both components of the momentum index declined in September. The institutional building component fell 11.5 percent from August, while the commercial building component fell 6.1 percent. While the overall index has lost ground for four consecutive months, this should not be seen, in … Read more

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Nonresidential Construction Spending Stabilizes in August

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nonresidential construction spending expanded .5 percent in August, totaling $691.8 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis, according to an analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau by Associated Builders and Contractors. Though this represents an improvement from July’s total ($688.2 billion), nonresidential spending remains 3.4 percent below its year-ago level and is down 3.8 percent from the cyclical peak attained in May 2017. Spending levels expanded in 10 of the 16 nonresidential construction subsectors in August on a monthly basis. The manufacturing subsector experienced the largest absolute monthly decline (-$2.6 billion) and the greatest year-over-year … Read more

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Construction Industry Adds 8K Jobs in September, 184K Throughout Year

Construction employment increased by 8,000 jobs in September to the highest level since October 2008, amid a tight labor market that may be keeping contractors from hiring as many workers as they need, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said construction employment gains would have been higher if more high school students were exposed to construction as a possible career option. “Construction firms added employees over the past year at a much higher rate than the public and private sectors as a whole, and contractors have been boosting pay … Read more

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