Construction employment sees boost
Thirty-eight states saw increases in construction employment during the past year, according to the latest figures from the Associated General Contractors of America.
Citing data from the U.S. Labor Department, the AGC said the gains flatted in February and March, demonstrating the need to encourage young people to consider construction careers.
“With each passing month, it becomes clearer that contractors in most states are hiring both experienced and new workers,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “It is essential for federal, state and local officials to clear roadblocks and adopt policies that will attract more workers into the industry.”
AGC chief economist Ken Simonson said the numbers are generally good news for the industry.
“The widespread gains in employment from a year ago are encouraging, given the tough winter many states experienced right through March,” Simonson said. “The never-ending winter of 2014 may account for the dip in the number of states that added construction jobs in the latest month, but it is also possible that single-family homebuilders are not adding workers as some forecasters expected.”
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