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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Construction Employment Rises in 45 States, D.C. from July 2017 to July 2018

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Forty-five states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between July 2017 and July 2018, while 29 states and D.C. added construction jobs between June and July, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department. Association officials cautioned that continued job gains may depend on swiftly implementing new training and education legislation to equip students and workers to enter the industry. “Construction job gains over the past year were more widespread across the country than at any time since the beginning of 2016,” said chief economist Ken Simonson. “These results show that contractors … Read more

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Construction Employment Rises in 43 States, D.C. from June 2017 to June 2018

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Forty-three states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between June 2017 and June 2018, while 32 states and D.C. added construction jobs between May and June, according to a recent analysis released by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials cautioned that continued job gains may depend on improving the training and education pipeline for workers to enter the industry. “Construction is proving to be a reliable source of employment growth in nearly every state, and contractors are eager to hire even more workers,” said chief economist Ken Simonson. “But finding qualified workers … Read more

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