Construction Employment Rises Year-Over-Year, Qualified Workers Grow Scarce

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Construction employment increased in 39 states between June 2015 and June 2016, although half the states shed construction jobs between May and June, according to analysis of Labor Department data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the flattening of monthly employment gains and losses indicates the urgency of beefing up programs to attract, train and retain construction workers. “Construction demand is still growing strongly in all regions and among many types of owners,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association. “But contractors appear to be struggling to fill jobs in the short run.” … Read more

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Construction Employment Stalls in June

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Construction employment was unchanged from May to June, but an increase in hourly pay and longer workweeks, along with shrinking numbers of unemployed construction workers, suggest contractors would hire more workers if they were available, according to recent analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the lack of available qualified workers for firms to hire appears to be holding back employment growth and urged Congress to pass legislation to reform and increase funding for career and technical education. “Construction employment stalled in June after declining in April and May, but unemployment among construction workers is at … Read more

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Construction Employment Declines or Stagnates Between May 2015, 2016

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Construction employment declined or was stagnant in 131, or 37 percent, of 358 metro areas between May 2015 and May 2016, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. The data comes as years of underfunding have contributed to declining highway, transit and other public infrastructure just 60 years after President Eisenhower signed the first interstate highway act. The largest job losses from May 2015 to May 2016 were in Midland, Texas (-1,700 jobs, -7 percent), followed by Odessa, Texas (-1,300 jobs, -8 percent); Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas (-1,100 jobs, -6 percent); … Read more

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Construction Headcount Dips in May, Qualified Workers are Scarce

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Construction employment dipped for the second consecutive month in May, but rising industry pay and plunging unemployment suggest contractors would be hiring more workers if they were available, according to a recent analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that worker shortages may be reaching the point where they undermine the sector’s growth. “Although construction employment slipped in April and May, the industry has added workers in the past year at double the rate of the overall economy,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Average pay in construction is rising faster than in the rest … Read more

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AGC Reports on Construction Employment April, May 2016

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Thirty-nine states added construction jobs between May 2015 and May 2016 while construction employment only increased in 19 states between April and May, according to analysis of Labor Department data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said monthly construction employment levels declined in most states as many firms appear to be running out of workers to hire amid growing labor shortages. “With construction demand remaining high and construction unemployment getting lower, the slowdown in monthly hiring probably has a lot more to do with a lack of workers than it does a lack of work,” … Read more

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