National Construction Unemployment Rate Ticks Up to 4.9 Percent in July

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WASHINGTON, Wash. – The national not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in July, up 0.4 percent from a year ago, but still the third lowest July rate on record—matching the July 2001 rate, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Unemployment rates increased in 34 states on a year-over-year basis, but the construction industry employed 186,000 more workers than in July 2016, according to an analysis released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. Rates fell in 14 states and were unchanged in two. Because these industry-specific rates are not seasonally adjusted, national and state-level unemployment rates are … 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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Nonresidential Construction Spending Down in September, August Data Upwardly Revised

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nonresidential construction spending fell 0.9 percent from August to September 2016, according to an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data released by Associated Builders and Contractors. Nonresidential spending totaled $690.5 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis for the month, 0.7 percent below September 2015’s figure. The government revised the August nonresidential construction spending estimate from $686.6 billion to $696.6 billion; otherwise September spending would have risen on a month-over-month basis. Eleven of 16 nonresidential construction subsectors experienced monthly declines. “Since late 2015, the level of nonresidential construction spending in America has been effectively flat,” said ABC … Read more

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Nonresidential Spending Slips in August

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nonresidential construction spending fell for a second consecutive month in August, according to a recent analysis of U.S. Census Bureau released by Associated Builders and Contractors. Nonresidential spending totaled $686.6 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis for the month, 1.1 percent lower than July’s total of $694.1 billion (revised down from $701 billion) and 1.3 percent below August 2015’s figure. Private nonresidential construction spending fell just 0.4 percent for the month, while its public sector counterpart shrank 2 percent. Four of the five largest nonresidential subsectors—power, highway and street, commercial and manufacturing—combined to fall 2.2 percent … Read more

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Nonresidential Spending Inches Lower in July, June Data Upwardly Revised to Eight-Year Record

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nonresidential construction spending inched 0.3 percent lower in July largely due to a significant upward revision to June’s spending figure, according to analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data recently released by Associated Builders and Contractors. Nonresidential spending totaled $701.4 billion on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis in July, the second highest month since November of 2008, right behind June, which was revised upward from $682 billion to $703.5 billion. Public nonresidential spending continued to falter, declining 3.2 percent for the month and 6.5 percent for the year. “A number of factors have suppressed nonresidential construction spending over … Read more

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