Phoenix, Ariz. and Hanford-Corcoran, Calif. Top List of Metro Areas Adding Jobs while Chicago and Napa, Calif. Lose Most Jobs for the Year Construction employment either increased or remained steady in a growing number of metropolitan areas — 120 of 337 — between November 2009 and November 2010 according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said construction employment is improving slightly thanks in large part to temporary federal funding for stimulus and military construction. “It is good to see the construction industry finishing the year on a … Read more

13 States Plus D.C. Add Jobs Year-To-Year; California Has the Largest Number of Monthly Gains and Yearly Losses in Construction Jobs; Texas and Oklahoma Have Biggest 12-Month Gains While Nevada Has Steepest Percentage Losses Construction employment expanded in 20 states between October and November, while the list of states with year-over-year construction job gains grew to 13 states plus the District of Columbia, the Associated General Contractors of America reported in an analysis of state employment data released today by the Labor Department. The new figures continue a year-long pattern of mixed results in construction employment as overall demand remains … Read more

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Latest Producer Price Index Figures Show Construction Materials Cost Increases Outstrip Overall PPI; Diesel Fuel and Copper Are the Biggest Problems While Steel Increases Loom Huge jumps in prices for diesel fuel and copper—two key inputs to construction—pinched contractors in November as weak demand for construction forced them to hold down bid prices despite the cost increases, according to an analysis of November producer price index figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Prices for materials used in construction climbed 0.5 percent in November and 4.8 percent over … Read more

Phoenix, Ariz. and Hanford-Corcoran, Calif. Top List of Metro Areas Adding Jobs while Chicago and Napa, Calif. Lose Most Jobs for the YearConstruction employment either increased or remained steady in one-third — 113 of 337 metropolitan areas — between October 2009 and October 2010 according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said construction job gains are becoming more widespread thanks in large part to an increase in power, stimulus and other publicly-funded construction projects. “It looks like the stimulus, military base realignment and power projects have put … Read more