Construction Lost Jobs in December, Says ABC

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WASHINGTON, D.C.— National construction employment declined by 3,000 net jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis in December, according to analysis of  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data recently released by the Associated Builders and Contractors. The industry added 102,000 net new jobs on a year-over-year basis, the smallest increase in more than four years. Of the five subsectors, only residential specialty trade contractors added jobs in December (11,700 net new jobs). Nonresidential construction lost 13,400 net jobs for the month, largely due to losses in heavy and civil engineering, which lost 8,900 jobs. These data are adjusted for seasonal variations, … Read more

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Construction Employment Dips in December

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Construction employment slipped by 3,000 jobs in December, while average hourly earnings accelerated, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that recent construction spending numbers and their own survey of members suggest demand for construction remains strong, suggesting that the lack of hiring may be due to a shortage of available workers. “This report presents mixed signals about the state of the construction industry,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Although a dip in employment might normally be a sign of declining demand, in this case the industry … Read more

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Architecture Billings Index Ekes out Small Gain

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Coming off a modest increase after two consecutive months of contraction, the Architecture Billings Index recorded another small increase in demand for design services.  As an economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate 9-12-month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects reported the November ABI score was 50.6, essentially unchanged from the mark of 50.8 in the previous month. This score reflects a slight increase in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 59.5, up from a reading … Read more

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Dodge Momentum Index Jumps in December

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NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Dodge Momentum Index increased 2.9 percent in December to 136.7 (2000=100) from its revised November reading of 132.8. The momentum 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. After trending upward over the course of 2016, the index is now at an eight-year high, although still more than 25 percent below its previous peak reached at the end of 2007. December’s gain was due to a 5.7 percent increase in the … Read more

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Almost Three-Fourths of Construction Firms Plan to Expand Headcount in 2017

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Seventy-three percent of construction firms plan to expand their payrolls in 2017 as contractors expect private and public sector demand to grow in all market segments, according to survey results recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage Construction and Real Estate. Despite the general optimism outlined in Expecting a Post-Election Bump: The 2017 Construction Industry Hiring and Business Outlook, many firms report they remain worried about the availability of qualified workers and rising health and regulatory costs. Contractors had a positive outlook, on net, for all 13 market segments included in the survey. Respondents are most … Read more

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