Construction Employers Add 12,000 Jobs in October, 231,000 for the Year

Construction employers added 12,000 jobs in October and the sector's unemployment rate fell to 6.4 percent, the lowest rate for October since 2006, according to an analysis released today by AGC of America. Association officials said the construction employment gains, along with rising wages and weekly hours, are consistent with survey results showing more firms having a hard time finding enough qualified workers to fill available positions. Construction employment totaled 6,095,000 in October, the highest total since May 2009, with a 12-month gain of 231,000 jobs or 3.9 percent, Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist, noted. Residential building and specialty trade contractors added a combined 8,000 employees since September and 130,600 (6.0 percent) over 12 months. Nonresidential contractors—building, specialty trades, and heavy and civil engineering—experienced an overall gain of 3,600 employees for the month and 99,800 (2.7 percent) over 12 months. Read the full release here.