Construction employment increased by 8,000 jobs in September to the highest level since October 2008, amid a tight labor market that may be keeping contractors from hiring as many workers as they need, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said construction employment gains would have been higher if more high school students were exposed to construction as a possible career option.
“Construction firms added employees over the past year at a much higher rate than the public and private sectors as a whole, and contractors have been boosting pay to attract more workers,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “But with unemployment so low overall and in construction, many contractors are having trouble filling a variety of hourly craft and salaried openings.”
Read full news release here.