Construction Employment Increases in 3/5 of Nation’s Metro Areas Between August 2015 & 2016

  • Posted on

Construction employment increased in three-fifths of metro areas between August 2015 and August 2016—the smallest share in nearly three and a half years—as contractors in many areas report difficulty in finding qualified workers, according to a new analysis of federal employment data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the new data underscores the need to make it easier for school officials to set up programs that teach skills like construction. “While the number of metro areas with employment increases has been slipping, the number with decreases—76 in August—has held roughly steady,” said Ken Simonson, … Read more

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: ,

Construction Employment Falters in August

  • Posted on

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. construction industry lost 6,000 net jobs in August according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released recently by Associated Builders and Contractors. BLS also downwardly revised July’s estimate from 14,000 net new jobs to 11,000 net new jobs meaning that the construction industry has lost 25,000 net jobs since April after adding 68,000 through the first three months of 2016. The nonresidential sector lost 10,700 net jobs in August after adding 9,600 jobs in July (revised down from 11,500). Employment in the heavy and civil engineering sector fell for the fourth time … Read more

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: , ,

Construction Employment Declines Amidst Qualified Worker Shortages

  • Posted on

Construction employment slipped from July to August for the fourth time in five months, but year-over-year job gains and recently released spending data suggest the recent weakness is due to firms having a hard time finding workers rather than lack of demand, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said its recent survey that found two-thirds of contractors are having a hard time finding qualified craft workers underscores the need for measures to boost recruitment and training on new workers. “A variety of indicators suggest contractors would be adding to headcount if they could … Read more

Filed under: Economic News, eNewsTagged with: ,

July Construction Unemployment Rate Lowest Since 2000

  • Posted on

WASHINGTON, D.C., — In July, not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates improved in 43 states and the nation, adding 209,000 workers on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data released by Associated Builders and Contractors. The national NSA construction unemployment rate of 4.5 percent was 1 percent lower than a year ago, the lowest July rate since 2000 when it was 4.4 percent. “The drop in the construction unemployment rate from July 2015 adds yet another month to the unbroken monthly series of year-over-year rate decreases that started in October 2010,” said economist Bernard … Read more

Filed under: Economic NewsTagged with: ,

Construction Employment Increases in June Year-Over-Year Amid Qualified Worker Shortage

  • Posted on

Construction employment increased in 228 out of 358 metro areas, was unchanged in 48 and declined in 82 between June 2015 and June 2016, according to a new analysis of federal employment data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials urged Congress to act on legislation to reform and increase federal funding for career and technical education to encourage more high school students to pursue high-paying careers in construction. “Contractors are adding employees in most parts of the country, while construction job losses are primarily in areas that are most affected by the steep decline in … Read more

Filed under: Economic News, eNewsTagged with: ,