Construction Employment at Nine-Year High

Construction employment increased by 16,000 jobs in June to the highest level since October 2008, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

 

Association officials urged federal, state and local lawmakers to enact measures to make it easier for school officials, local associations and construction firms to set up construction training programs.

 

Construction employment totaled 6.89 million, while the 16,000 new jobs were nearly double the 9,000 jobs added in the previous three months combined. On a year-over-year measurement, last month’s level constituted an increase of 206,000, or 3.1 percent, from June 2016.
Residential construction added 6,000 jobs in June and 115,600, or 4.5 percent, over the past 12 months, while nonresidential construction employment increased by 10,300 jobs in June and 90,600, or 2.2 percent, over 12 months. However, concern was raised that construction companies may soon find increased problems in filling vacancies.

 

“Construction firms added employees over the past year at nearly double the rate of the overall economy, but the record-low unemployment rate for construction workers shows companies are having to reach outside the industry to fill positions,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Finding any qualified workers will likely become even harder with low unemployment throughout the economy.”

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