Construction employment increased by 228,000 jobs over the past year despite a weather-related dip last month, and the industry’s unemployment rate fell to 7.4 percent, the lowest yet for March, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials called for revitalizing and adequately funding career and technical education and training programs to ensure that employment in the high-paying industry would continue to grow. “Construction employment indicators are still signaling strong demand on an annual basis, even though unusually bad weather in several regions probably depressed hiring in March,” said Ken Simonson, … Read more
Construction Employers Add 228K Jobs Over Year, Industry Unemployment Rate Lowest Ever for Month
Construction employment increased by 228,000 jobs over the past year despite a weather-related dip last month and the industry’s unemployment rate fell to 7.4 percent, the lowest yet for March, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials called for revitalizing and adequately funding career and technical education and training programs to ensure that employment in the high-paying industry would continue to grow. “Construction employment indicators are still signaling strong demand on an annual basis, even though unusually bad weather in several regions probably depressed hiring in March,” said Ken Simonson, … Read more
Construction Employment Rises in 35 States, D.C. from February 2017 to February 2018
Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between February 2017 and February 2018, while 38 states added construction jobs between January and February, according to a recent analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials praised the latest Congressional spending bill for funding career and technical education to help young workers get into the industry. “The construction industry continues to add employees in most of the nation, despite a shortage of workers with construction experience,” said chief economist Ken Simonson. “But job openings are growing, as contractors encounter a shrinking pool … Read more
New Steel, Aluminum Tariffs Cause Concern within Construction Industry
The CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, released the following statement in reaction to President Trump’s announcement that he will impose new tariffs on imported steel and aluminum products: “These new tariffs will cause significant harm to the nation’s construction industry, put tens of thousands of high-paying construction jobs at risk, undermine the President’s proposed infrastructure initiative and potentially dampen demand for new construction projects for years to come. That is because the newly imposed tariffs will lead to increases in what construction firms are forced to pay for the many steel and aluminum products that … Read more
Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium Best Construction Project of 2017
Atlanta, Georgia’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium was the most significant construction project of 2017, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. As a result, the project’s contractor, a joint venture of Holder-Hunt-Russell-Moody, received the association’s Construction Risk Partners Build America Grand Award, as well as the award for the best building project over $100 million. “These awards epitomize the latest and greatest projects the construction industry has to offer,” said Art Daniel, the association’s president and president of AR Daniel Construction Services in Cedar Hill, Texas. “The construction firms recognized have utilized outstanding skill, collaboration and innovation to complete some of … Read more