Construction employment declined in 162 out of 337 metropolitan areas between June 2011 and June 2012, increased in 127 and stayed stagnant in 48, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said construction employment declined or remained unchanged in most metro areas as the public sector continued to cut back on investments in new construction and infrastructure and economic growth slowed. “The construction sector continues to shrink or stagnate in most metro areas as demand for new construction remains weak in too many places,” said Ken Simonson, the … Read more

Construction employment increased in just half the states plus the District of Columbia from June 2011 to June 2012, but declined in a slim majority of states in the past month, according to an analysis of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America. “The latest state data show again how fragile and fragmentary the construction recovery is,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “Although private sector demand for structures has risen in most states, improvement in single-family homebuilding is spotty and public investment is shrinking.” Simonson noted that 25 states and D.C. added construction jobs between … Read more

Construction employment stalled in June as more former construction workers left the industry, according to an analysis of new federal data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. The lack of job openings, along with the departure of experienced workers, suggests a potential skilled-labor shortage may be developing, construction association officials warned. “Employment in the construction industry has fluctuated within a very narrow range—1 percent above or below the June level of 5.5 million—for more than two years now,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. While the latest figure was 14,000 higher than one year earlier, the June … Read more