Construction employment hits 11-year peak, says AGC
Construction employment increased by 52,000 jobs in January and by 338,000 jobs, or 4.7 percent, over the past year, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials urged government officials to strengthen career and technical education programs and facilitate immigration for workers with construction skills before a worker shortage stalls completion of needed infrastructure.
"There has been no letup in demand for construction projects — or workers," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "Even though the industry added employees at more than double the pace of the overall economy in the past year, the average workweek in construction reached an all-time high and unemployment in construction hit a series low, indicating that contractors would hire even more workers if they were available."