Construction firms feel good about 2018
Recruiting, retaining talent still a struggle, survey says
If you’re looking for a new job in construction during 2018, you have a pretty good chance of landing one, according to a recent survey from the Associated General Contractors of America.
Seventy-five percent of construction firms plan to expand payrolls this year, according to the survey from the AGC and Sage Construction and Real Estate.
"Construction firms appear to be very optimistic about 2018 as they expect demand for all types of construction services to continue to expand," said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer. "This optimism is likely based on current economic conditions, an increasingly business-friendly regulatory environment and expectations the Trump administration will boost infrastructure investments."
Finding qualified workers will likely remain a struggle, many survey respondents said. About 60 percent of construction firms said they have boosted pay with 36 percent adding bonuses or other incentives to attract and retain workers.
The White House and Congress need to offer more support to construction careers, Sandherr added.
“Congress and the Trump administration need to take steps to address chronic workforce shortages by passing a new Perkins Act and making it easier for local officials to set up construction-focused career and technical education programs,” he said.
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