Construction Job Growth Rebounds in 2017, ABC Says

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – National construction employment started 2017 on a high note, adding 36,000 net new jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis in January, according to analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by the Associated Builders and Contractors. The 0.5 percent increase represents the best month for construction employment growth since March of 2016. The nonresidential construction sector added 14,900 net new jobs for the month, while its residential counterpart added 20,300 net new jobs (note that these don’t sum to the total due to rounding). The construction industry added 170,000 net new jobs on a yearly … Read more

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ABC Releases State Rankings on Policies Affecting Construction Industry

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors recently released its annual update to “Building America: The Merit Shop Scorecard,” which reviews and grades state-specific policies and information significant to the success of the commercial and industrial construction industry. The scorecard highlights states that have created a free enterprise-based environment where merit shop contractors are well positioned to succeed and calls attention to states where strategic improvements need to be made. The Merit Shop Scorecard grades states on their policies on prevailing wage and project labor agreement mandates and Right to Work status, as well as their construction job growth rate, … Read more

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Construction Lost Jobs in December, Says ABC

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WASHINGTON, D.C.— National construction employment declined by 3,000 net jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis in December, according to analysis of  U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data recently released by the Associated Builders and Contractors. The industry added 102,000 net new jobs on a year-over-year basis, the smallest increase in more than four years. Of the five subsectors, only residential specialty trade contractors added jobs in December (11,700 net new jobs). Nonresidential construction lost 13,400 net jobs for the month, largely due to losses in heavy and civil engineering, which lost 8,900 jobs. These data are adjusted for seasonal variations, … Read more

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ABC Predicts Modest Growth for 2017 Nonresidential Construction Sector

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors forecasts a slowdown of growth in the U.S. commercial and industrial construction industries in 2017. While contractors are vulnerable to rising commodity prices and potential interest rate increases in 2017, the middling consumer-led recovery should still lead to modest growth in construction spending and employment. “The U.S. economy continues to expand amid a weak global economy and, despite risks to the construction industry, nonresidential spending should expand 3.5 percent in 2017,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “For more than two years, the Federal Reserve has been able to focus heavily on stimulating … Read more

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Construction Unemployment Rates Improve in 38 States Year-Over-Year, ABC Says

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — November not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates were down in 38 states and the nation on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis recently released by Associated Builders and Contractors. The rates for two states, Kansas and Texas, were unchanged from November 2015. The national NSA construction unemployment rate of 5.7 percent was down 0.5 percent from a year ago and unchanged from October, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This was the lowest national NSA November construction unemployment rate on record, matching the 5.7 percent rate in November 2005 and November 2000. Meanwhile, … Read more

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