Companies With and Without Stimulus Projects Hiring at Same Rate, In Part Because of “Disappointingly” Slow Distribution on Non-Transportation Stimulus Construction Dollars ARLINGTON, VA — July 30 — The stimulus plan appears to be having little influence on construction companies’ ability to expand payrolls to date according to a new industry analysis of the impact of the federal program’s construction spending released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The “disappointingly” slow pace of construction spending outside of the transportation sector is one of the main reasons for the relatively small impact on new hiring, the group noted. “While … Read more

Columbus, Indiana & Weirton, West Virginia-Steubenville, Ohio Had Largest Increases; Pascagoula, Mississippi & Reno-Sparks, Nevada Had Largest Decreases in Construction Employment July 28 — Construction employment declined in all but 19 communities nationwide this June as compared to June-2008, according to a new analysis of metropolitan-area employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The analysis, which ranks the 12-month construction employment change reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 352 metro areas, shows that few places in America have been spared the widespread downturn in construction employment over the past year. “Construction workers remain, unfortunately, … Read more

July 13 (Bloomberg) — White House economic advisers expect “robust” job growth during the next decade in such industries as health care, green energy, transportation, construction and education, according to a report that calls for a “comprehensive strategy” to better prepare workers. The report, released today by President Barack Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, is based on the group's analysis of labor-market data. Health-care jobs will remain “a large source” of the projected growth, particularly for information-technology workers, registered nurses, laboratory technicians and physical therapists, it said. The CEA report is part of an administration response to Republican critics who … Read more