Construction Employment Rises in 287 Metro Areas Between August 2017, 2018 says AGC

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Construction employment increased in 287 out of 358 metro areas (80 percent) between August 2017 and August 2018, declined in 35 (10 percent) and was unchanged in 36, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that further gains depend on finding enough qualified workers and urged federal officials to improve career and technical education funding and reform immigration policies. “The increases in construction employment have been showing up in more and more metro areas,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Moreover, the gains should continue. Three … Read more

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Construction Employment Rises in 45 States, D.C. from August 2017 Year-Over-Year

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45 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between August 2017 and August 2018, while 33 states added construction jobs between July and August, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials welcomed the job gains but noted that the numbers would have been higher if contractors could only find more qualified workers to hire. “Only three states experienced a decline in construction employment over the past year, the fewest number with a decrease since May 2015,” said chief economist Ken Simonson. “These results show that contractors still expect … Read more

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Construction Employment Rises by 23K in August, 297K for Year as Labor Shortages Prevent Firms from Hiring

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Construction employment increased by 23,000 jobs in August and by 297,000 jobs over the past year, reaching a 10-year high, while the industry’s unemployment rate stood at an all-time low, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Even as firms continued to expand, a new report finds that most firms are struggling to find enough workers to keep up with demand. “The construction industry continues to add workers and increase pay at greater rates than the economy as a whole, with job gains spread across both residential and non-residential construction,” said Ken … Read more

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Construction Spending Extends Year-to-Date Gains in July in Most Public, Private Segments

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Construction spending increased 0.1 percent from June to July and 5.2 percent for seven months of 2018 combined, with year-to-date growth for most major public and private categories, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said sustained growth will depend in part on contractors’ ability to find increasingly scarce craft workers and urged public officials to step up support for career and technical education to prepare more students for construction careers. “It is striking how balanced the growth in construction spending has been so far this year,” said Ken Simonson, … Read more

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Construction Employment Reaches 10-Year High, Industry Unemployment Sets Record Low

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Construction employment increased by 19,000 jobs in July and by 303,000 jobs over the past year, reaching a 10-year high, and the industry’s unemployment rate and level hit an all-time low, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said it was likely firms would have added even more workers if they could find qualified candidates to hire. “The construction industry has added workers at nearly three times the rate of the economy as a whole, and the job gains are showing up in both residential and nonresidential construction,” said Ken … Read more

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