News

Construction Employment Increases in 155 out of 337 Metro Areas Between March 2011 and 2012 as Weather Impacts Typical Hiring Pattern

Construction employment increased in 155 out of 337 metropolitan areas between March 2011 and March 2012, decreased in 134 and stayed level in 48, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by AGC. Association officials said that fewer metro areas added construction jobs in March compared to February because of disruptions to typical hiring patterns caused by weather. “While last March firms were getting a late start to the construction season because the winter was so cold, this year’s warm winter allowed many firms to do their typical spring hiring in February,” said Ken Simonson, AGC’s chief economist. “It is too early to tell whether the hiring momentum within construction is slowing down or just pausing to let contractors catch up with the weather.” View construction employment figures by state or rank. Read the full press release here.  The news was covered by Bakersfield Californian, KBAK/KBEX-TV, KGET-TV, Birmingham News, Florida Today, Reno Gazette-Journal, Crain’s Detroit Business, Greater Baton Rouge Business Journal, Birmingham Business Journal, Business First of Louisville, Northern Colorado Business Report, Maine Biz, Providence Business News, San Antonio Business Journal and the Wichita Business Journal.