Forty-five states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between July 2017 and July 2018, while 29 states and D.C. added construction jobs between June and July, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials cautioned that continued job gains may depend on swiftly implementing new training and education legislation to equip students and workers to enter the industry.

The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, released the following statement...

Forty-three states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between June 2017 and June 2018, while 32 states and D.C. added construction jobs between May and June, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials cautioned that continued job gains may depend on improving the training and education pipeline for workers to enter the industry.

Construction costs accelerated again in June

Construction costs accelerated again in June, with steep increases for a wide range of building and road construction materials as tariffs against foreign goods come into effect, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new Labor Department data. Association officials say that contractors will have to assume much of the costs as tariffs increase the costs of many key construction materials.

Construction employment increased by 13,000 jobs in June and by 282,000 jobs over the past year, reaching a 10-year high, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said many construction firms appear to be more willing to hire amid lower tax rates and a more favorable business environment, but caution that trade fights and labor shortages pose risks to future growth.

Construction spending reached a record level of $1.309 trillion in May as monthly increases in residential and public investment outweighed a decline in private nonresidential outlays, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials warned, however, that continued labor shortages and rising materials costs threaten future growth in demand.

Construction employment increased in 263 (73 percent) out of 358 metro areas between May 2017 and May 2018

Merced, Calif., Midland and Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas Have Largest Gains as 63 Areas Set May Records for Construction Employment; Newark, N.J.-Pa. and Bloomington, Ill. Have Biggest Annual Decreases

James V. Christianson, Vice President, Government Relations, for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the nation’s leading construction trade association, today urged Congress “to reform the nation’s immigration system.”