Total construction spending fell by 1.1% in June as spending on new housing and nonresidential projects declined compared to May, according to an analysis the Associated General Contractors of America released of federal spending data. Association officials said that the construction spending figures are being impacted as materials and labor shortages are slowing schedules and increasing the cost of construction. Construction spending, not adjusted for inflation, totaled $1.76 trillion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate in June. That figure was 1.1% below the upwardly revised May rate and 8.3% higher than in June 2021. Private nonresidential construction spending declined for the … Read more

Construction employment exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 32 states in April, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned, however, that record high job opening levels in the construction sector indicate that many firms are having a hard time finding workers to hire, putting future job gains at risk.   Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist noted that government data from the monthly job openings and labor turnover survey show that there were 415,000 job openings in the construction industry at the end of March. That was the highest … Read more