Construction Employment Grows in 252 out of 358 Metro Areas from August 2018 to August 2019, says AGC

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Construction employment grew in 252 out of 358 metro areas between August 2018 and August 2019, declined in 60 and was unchanged in 46, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that while firms are finding ways to add staff, a recent survey found 80% of contractors are having a hard time finding enough workers to hire. “Construction firms would likely be adding even more jobs if they could find more qualified workers to hire,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But tight labor market conditions … Read more

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Construction Employment Increases in 39 States, D.C. from August 2018 to August 2019

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Thirty-nine states added construction jobs between August 2018 and August 2019, while construction employment increased in 29 states from July to August, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials said that construction workforce shortages identified in a survey the association released last month may have kept more states from adding construction jobs this past month. “Even more states probably would have posted gains in construction employment if firms could find enough people to hire,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “They are finding most craft positions hard to fill, … Read more

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Labor Shortages Likely Held Back Additional Hiring, New AGC Survey Reports

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Construction employment grew in 255, or 71%, out of 358 metro areas between July 2018 and July 2019, declined in 56 and was unchanged in 47, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said a newly released workforce survey showed the employment gains would likely have been even more widespread if firms could find more qualified workers to hire, and they urged federal officials to bolster career training programs. “Demand for construction has not slackened in most metro areas,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “In fact, … Read more

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Construction Employment Rises in August, Unemployment Rate near Historic Lows

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Construction employment increased by 14,000 jobs in August and by 177,000, or 2.4%, over the past 12 months, while the number of unemployed jobseekers with construction experience remained near historic lows, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that 80% of contractors reported they were having a hard time finding enough qualified hourly craft workers to hire according to the results of a survey the association recently released. “Construction employment gains would likely have been higher if firms could find even more people to hire,” said Ken Simonson, the … Read more

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July Construction Unemployment Rates Remain Low, Says ABC

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In July, estimated not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates rose nationally and in 38 states, fell in eight states and remained unchanged in four on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by Associated Builders and Contractors. For the third consecutive month, all 50 states posted construction unemployment rates less than 10%. The construction industry employed 201,000 more workers nationally compared to July 2018, despite a rise in the July 2019 national NSA construction unemployment rate of 0.4%, from 3.4% to 3.8%, according to BLS numbers. “In July, most of the East … Read more

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