More Contractors to Serve? Construction Employers Add 16,000 Jobs
Construction employers added 16,000 jobs and the sector's unemployment rate fell to 7%, the lowest rate for September in years, according to an analysis released by the Associated General Contractors of America.
Construction employment totaled 6,079,000 in September, the highest total since May 2009, with a 12-month gain of 230,000 jobs or 3.9 percent. Residential building and specialty trade contractors added a combined 11,800 employees since August and 129,400 (5.9 percent) over 12 months.
"While we are eager to see even more construction employment gains, there is no denying the fact that the industry has been in recovery mode for much of the past three years," said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer. Association officials said the construction employment gains come as more firms report having a hard time finding enough qualified workers to fill available positions, citing the lack of local vocational training programs, especially at the secondary level.
Nonresidential building and specialty trade contractors hired a net of 3,700 workers for the month and 100,300 (2.7 percent) since September 2013. However, heavy and civil engineering contractors, which perform the majority of public-sector construction, increased their headcount by only 500 in September and 29,000 (3.3 percent) over the year amid tight government budget conditions.
Find the AGC's complete new release here.
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