Construction employment totaled 6,652,000 in July, and is up by 215,000 jobs compared to a year ago, a 3.3% increase; nearly double the 1.7% increase in total nonfarm payroll employment. Residential construction employment increased by 700 in July and by 120,100, or 4.9%, compared to a year ago. Nonresidential construction employment increased by 13,400 jobs for the month and is up by 94,700 jobs compared to July 2015, a 2.4% increase.

The construction economist noted that average hourly earnings in construction rose by 3% over the past year. Average pay on the constructions sector is now $28.20 per hour, or 10% more than the all-private sector average. Average weekly hours in construction totaled a high of 39.2 in July, indicating that contractors are keeping workers busy as they try to find additional employees.

Meanwhile, the pool of unemployed, experienced construction workers shrank to the lowest July total since 2000. Today there are 410,000 unemployed construction workers, down from 474,000 a year earlier. The unemployment rate for such workers was 4.5% in July, down from 5.5% in July 2015.

Association officials said the new employment figures underscore the need for federal, state, and local officials to act on the measures outlined in the association's Workforce Development Plan. In particular, they urged Congress to act on a measure recently approved by the House Education and Workforce Committee that makes needed reforms to, and funding increases for, career and technical education programs that recruit and prepare future construction workers.

"Many high-paying construction jobs are going unfilled even as our school systems continue to produce students who lack the skills many employers are seeking," said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer. "Congress must act now to give school officials greater flexibility and funding they need to offer programs that teach skills employers need."