Construction employment declined in 151 out of 337 metropolitan areas between November 2011 and November 2012, increased in 126 and was stagnant in 60, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that metro areas in New York and New Jersey in particular experienced significant construction declines in the first full month after Hurricane Sandy. “The uncertainty about 2013 federal tax and spending rates likely prompted firms in many parts of the country to hold back on hiring,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “Construction workers … Read more

Construction employers added 30,000 jobs in December while the industry’s unemployment rate hit 13.5 percent, according to an analysis of new federal data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the monthly increase was the largest in nearly two years, driven primarily by increases in private sector demand for construction. “Resurgent demand for new housing construction and modest growth in private commercial construction are helping create some new construction jobs,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Now that the threat of the fiscal cliff has been temporarily relieved, construction employment should continue to … Read more

Barely one-third of states added construction jobs on either a monthly or annual basis in November, as the prospect of a more severe contraction in 2013 keeps hiring down, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials noted that the threat of the looming fiscal cliff's spending cuts and tax increases is offsetting slight growth in construction spending and keeping employment levels down. “While construction spending has been rising for over a year, contractors have held down employment levels out of fear that failure in Washington to avoid the "fiscal cliff" … Read more