Forty-one states added construction jobs between October 2016 and October 2017, while 26 states added construction jobs between September and October, continuing a pattern of widespread but uneven growth in industry employment, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. The association’s chief economist suggested that recent job gains would have been more widespread if enough qualified workers were available.
“Although construction employment has risen over the past year, many contractors report difficulty finding workers with the right skills,” said chief economist Ken Simonson. “Last month, construction employment increased in only half the states, a total that would probably have been higher if workers were available.”
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