Construction employment was unchanged from May 2016 to June 2016, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. However, the association said an increase in hourly pay and longer workweeks, along with shrinking numbers of unemployed construction workers, suggests contractors would hire more workers if they were available.
Association officials also said the lack of available qualified workers for firms to hire appears to be holding back employment growth and urged Congress to pass legislation to reform and increase funding for career and technical education.