Construction Starts Rise by 32.4% or Nearly One-Third

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CMD announced that March’s $25 billion of construction starts, excluding residential work, soared higher by 32.4 percent (or nearly one-third) versus February. It was a much greater increase than would have been expected based solely on seasonality. The long-term average February-to-March increase in CMD’s nonresidential building starts has been 6 percent. While the large month-to-month gain this year warrants cheers, it should be noted that February-to-March’s rise last year was also outsized. In fact, it was even bigger, at +40.3 percent. Furthermore, compared with the same standalone month of 2014, March of 2015 was -5.1 percent. Year-to-date starts in 2015 … Read more

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Construction Employment Increases Year-Over-Year, Private Sector Demand Offsets Challenges

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Construction employment expanded in 278 metro areas, declined in 36 and was stagnant in 44 between February 2014 and February 2015, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the job gains come as private sector demand, particularly for multifamily housing, offset declining public sector investments, labor shortages and the challenges of a slowing global economy and declining oil prices. “Construction firms continue to add new jobs at a pretty steady clip in most parts of the country,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, noting that the … Read more

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Construction Employment Increases in 45 States and D.C., 33 States Add Jobs

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Construction firms added jobs in 45 states and the District of Columbia between February 2014 and February 2015 while construction employment increased in 33 states between January and February, according to a recent analysis of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that growing labor, funding and regulatory challenges may impact future jobs gains, however. “Construction employment continues to recover in many parts of the country even as some markets have a hard time stabilizing,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “States like Nevada and Mississippi continue to experience significant monthly swings in … Read more

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Construction Employment Increases in 70% of Metro Areas

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Construction employment expanded in 247 metro areas, declined in 56 and was stagnant in 55 between January 2014 and January 2015, according to a new analysis of federal employment data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said they were also launching a new effort, called #DriveBetterRoads designed to get Congress and the administration to finance and pass a long-term highway and transit measure. “The picture is very positive overall, with more than two-thirds of metro areas recording increases in construction employment over the past 12 months,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “However, the … Read more

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Construction Employment Increases During Past Year, Reports AGC

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Construction firms added jobs in 43 states and the District of Columbia between January 2014 and January 2015 while construction employment increased in 31 between December and January, according to a recent analysis of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that further construction gains could be undermined if Congress and the administration fail to address infrastructure funding challenges growing regulatory burdens. “Most of the country experienced a welcome rebound in construction employment last year,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Yet it is unclear how public sector demand and new regulatory requirements … Read more

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