Almost Three-Fourths of Construction Firms Plan to Expand Headcount in 2017

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Seventy-three percent of construction firms plan to expand their payrolls in 2017 as contractors expect private and public sector demand to grow in all market segments, according to survey results recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage Construction and Real Estate. Despite the general optimism outlined in Expecting a Post-Election Bump: The 2017 Construction Industry Hiring and Business Outlook, many firms report they remain worried about the availability of qualified workers and rising health and regulatory costs. Contractors had a positive outlook, on net, for all 13 market segments included in the survey. Respondents are most … Read more

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Construction Firms Add 19,000 Jobs in November, Drop in Infrastructure Spending Slows Growth

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Construction employers added 19,000 jobs in November, reaching the highest employment level since November 2008, but a drop in public sector investments in construction projects held down employment among heavy and civil engineering firms, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that recent construction spending numbers show a decline in most categories of infrastructure investment. “This report shows the construction industry has the capacity to handle additional infrastructure work even as private nonresidential projects, apartments and homebuilding continue to go up,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The industry would be adding … Read more

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Construction Employment Conditions Vary Widely Between September 2015, 2016

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Construction employment conditions varied widely by metro area between September 2015 and September 2016 as contractors in many areas struggled to find qualified workers while others contending with shrinking public budgets for infrastructure, according to a new analysis of federal employment data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the new data shows the need to enact career and technical education reforms along with infrastructure funding. “Overall, the employment picture for construction workers is positive—the number of metro areas adding construction jobs in the past year was more than triple the number that lost jobs,” … Read more

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AGC Reports on Construction Hiring Despite Drop in Public Spending

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Construction employers added 11,000 jobs in October as employment in the sector is at the highest level since December 2008 despite declines in public sector investments in construction projects, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that average hourly earnings for construction workers increased by 3.2 percent compared to 12 months ago as firms continue to expand amid shortages of available qualified workers. “There is a two-part story in construction right now as private-sector demand continues to boost employment while declining public-sector demand is contributing to year-over-year declines in heavy and civil engineering … Read more

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September Year-Over-Year Construction Employment Rises

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Thirty-five states added construction jobs between September 2015 and September 2016 while construction employment increased in only 21 states and the District of Columbia between August and September, according to a recent analysis of Labor Department data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said contractors still report difficulty filling construction jobs, and they urged Congress to complete action on a bill that would help more students gain the skills to qualify for good-paying careers in construction. “The list of states that are adding construction jobs has been shrinking, yet contractors generally report they are busy now … Read more

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