Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between December 2018 and December 2019, while construction employment increased in 29 states from November to December, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Officials added that most contractors expect to continue adding to their payrolls in 2020, according to the results of the association’s annual construction forecast. “Construction employment consistently expanded in at least two-thirds of the states throughout 2019, even though contractors reported difficulty in finding qualified workers all year long,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “As long … Read more
Industry Survey Shows Strong 2020 Demand for Projects and Workers
Construction spending rose 4.1% from November 2018 to November 2019, while industry employment grew in 226, or 63%, out of 358 metro areas, according to a new analysis of federal data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that its recent survey found most contractors are optimistic about the dollar value of projects available and expect to keep adding workers in 2020 but they are finding it hard to fill positions and anticipate it will continue to be hard to hire employees. “Both the actual spending totals for November and our members’ expectations for 2020 point … Read more
Construction Employment Increases in 38 States, D.C. from November 2018 to November 2019
Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between November 2018 and November 2019, while construction employment increased in 18 states from October to November, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials noted that a survey it recently released found most contractors expect to keep adding workers in 2020 but they are finding it hard to fill positions and anticipate it will continue to be hard to hire employees. “It is encouraging that so many contractors were able to add employees even with overall unemployment at a 50-year … Read more
Blach Construction, Superintendent Awarded Safety Honors by AGC
The Associated General Contractors of California Construction recognized Blach Construction during its recent Safety in Excellence Awards luncheon. The company received second place in the Building Division (under 400,000 worker hours) and veteran Superintendent Mike Harney was awarded the Individual Safety Effort of a Project Superintendent Award. In 2018, Blach received the third-place award in the same Building Division category. “Safety is not simply a category we check off for each of our projects – it permeates our culture and every aspect of what we do at Blach,” said Dan Rogers, Blach president. “We are the sum of our people … Read more
Construction Employment Increases in 231 out of 358 Metro Areas from October 2018 to October 2019
Construction employment grew in 231, or 65%, out of 358 metro areas between October 2018 and October 2019, declined in 69 and was unchanged in 58, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said hourly craftworker positions remain difficult to fill despite the widespread job gains, and they urged federal officials to promote more workplace-based immigration, along with career and technical education. “Employers in most areas remain busy and eager to hire workers, but they struggle to find qualified employees in many metros,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s … Read more