Construction Jobless Rate Declines, Reports AGC

Construction employers added 19,000 workers to payrolls in March, bringing industry employment to the highest level since June 2009, while the industry's unemployment rate dropped to the lowest March level in seven years, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials warned that the pool of available workers is declining rapidly, raising the prospects for significant labor shortages if demand continues to expand. “The rate of construction hiring continues to outrun job growth in the overall economy for the past year,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Furthermore, the pickup … Read more

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AGC Reports on February Construction Employment Increase, Topping Out

Construction employment expanded in 175 metro areas, declined in 106 and was stagnant in 58 between February 2013 and February 2014, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted, however, that despite the gains construction employment remained below peak levels in all but 19 metro areas. “It is encouraging that contractors added workers in so many locations despite severe weather that delayed some project starts,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “At the same time, it's clear that the upturn in construction is far from universal. … Read more

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Construction Spending Inches Higher, According to AGC

Total construction spending in February edged up from January despite adverse weather in much of the nation, as private residential and nonresidential components posted solid growth compared with early 2013, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the construction spending figures would have been stronger if not for declines in public sector construction and infrastructure investments. “Overall construction spending in the first two months of 2014 is nearly 9 percent higher than in the same period of 2013 even though public spending has continued to slip,” said … Read more

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AGC Reports on February Construction Employment

Construction firms added jobs in 37 states over the past 12 months and in 30 states between January and February according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials said the jobs gains came even as many parts of the country experienced unusually severe winter weather, include cold and snowy conditions in the Northeast and Midwest, and warm and unusually dry conditions in much of the Southwest. “Considering the mix of states adding and losing construction jobs for the month and year, it seems winter conditions had less of an impact than … Read more

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Construction Employment Expands in 195 Metro Areas, Declines in 90

Construction employment expanded in 195 metro areas, declined in 90 and was stagnant in 54 between January 2013 and January 2014, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted, however, that despite the gains construction employment remained below peak levels in all but 21 metro areas. “It is a sign of the continued strengthening of the construction industry that nearly 60 percent of metros added construction jobs from a year earlier despite the severe winter conditions in much of the country this January,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s … Read more

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