Nonresidential Construction a Bright Spot in Disappointing Jobs Report, BLS Reveals

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — National construction employment remained largely unchanged in March, adding 6,000 net new jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by Associated Builders and Contractors. The nonresidential construction sector added 13,300 net new jobs for the month, while the residential sector lost 7,600 net jobs. “While today’s jobs report will be viewed primarily as a disappointment, nonresidential construction remains a bright spot, adding 13,000 jobs,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Nonresidential construction’s growth is impressive given March’s colder weather, but it represents a slowing from the first […]

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Construction Material Costs in March Outpace Contractor Pricing

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Double-digit price increases for key construction materials pushed up construction costs in March, while the prices charged by contractors remained moderate, according to a new analysis of federal producer price data released by Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials urged policymakers to avoid adopting restrictions on international trade that would add to materials costs and potentially drive up the price of infrastructure, buildings and new homes and apartments. “Prices have jumped in recent months for diesel fuel, steel, copper, wallboard and lumber—materials essential for houses, nonresidential buildings and infrastructure projects,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Contractors generally […]

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Construction Unemployment Rates Improve in 10 States Year-Over-Year, ABC Says

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WASHINGTON, D.C.— Construction unemployment rates were down in 10 states and unchanged in three in January on a year-over-year basis, according to analysis released by Associated Builders and Contractors. For the nation and 37 states, rates were higher than in January 2016, ending 75 consecutive months of year-over-year declines. The national not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rate of 9.4 percent was up 0.9 percent from January 2016, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since these industry-specific rates are NSA, it is most accurate to evaluate the national and state-level unemployment rates on a year-over-year basis. In […]

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Construction Employment Increases in 43 States in Last 12 Months

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Forty-three states added construction jobs between February 2016 and February 2017 while 39 states added construction jobs between January and February, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data recently released. Association officials noted that the despite the relatively widespread increase in construction employment, most states are still significantly below peak construction employment levels. “A combination of solid demand and unseasonably mild weather added to construction employment in more states than usual in February,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association. “But conditions vary widely. Five states set new records for construction […]

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Construction Employment Shows Mixed Geographic Pattern, Reports AGC

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Construction employment showed a mixed pattern geographically in the latest 12 months, increasing in 219 out of 358 metro areas between January 2016 and January 2017, declining in 104 and stagnating in 35, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that firms in many parts of the country are either benefitting from growing demand for construction or having a hard time finding enough qualified workers to keep up with demand, while firms in other parts suffer from declining demand “While construction employment is growing at a healthy […]

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