Construction employers added 30,000 jobs in December while the industry’s unemployment rate hit 13.5 percent, according to an analysis of new federal data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the monthly increase was the largest in nearly two years, driven primarily by increases in private sector demand for construction. “Resurgent demand for new housing construction and modest growth in private commercial construction are helping create some new construction jobs,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Now that the threat of the fiscal cliff has been temporarily relieved, construction employment should continue to … Read more

Barely one-third of states added construction jobs on either a monthly or annual basis in November, as the prospect of a more severe contraction in 2013 keeps hiring down, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials noted that the threat of the looming fiscal cliff's spending cuts and tax increases is offsetting slight growth in construction spending and keeping employment levels down. “While construction spending has been rising for over a year, contractors have held down employment levels out of fear that failure in Washington to avoid the "fiscal cliff" … Read more

Construction materials costs dropped in November, aided by a plunge in diesel prices along with smaller decreases in a variety of other inputs, according to an analysis of new federal figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that some of the price declines may be related to the fact that the threat of the fiscal cliff is already having an impact on demand for construction and related materials. “The recent price decreases are very welcome after years of price spikes that contractors could not pass on in a weak construction market,” said Ken Simonson, … Read more

Construction employment declined by 20,000 jobs in November while the industry’s unemployment rate hit 12.2 percent, according to an analysis of new federal data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The construction employment figures likely reflect the fact many contractors have already cut staff and delayed hiring new employees because of the threat of the “fiscal cliff,” according to results of a survey of member firms the association also released today. “It is discouraging that construction employment is still struggling after more three years of expansion in the overall economy,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. … Read more

Construction employment declined in 156 out of 337 metropolitan areas between October 2011 and October 2012, increased in 127 and was stagnant in 54, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. However, construction jobs in many parts of the country are at risk if Congress and the president allow the “fiscal cliff” to occur, according to a new report the association released today. “These figures show how spotty the construction recovery has been—even within a single state,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. The largest job losses were … Read more