Total construction spending increased by 0.4 percent in September, yet a record-high number of job openings suggests the industry would be completing even more projects if it could hire enough workers, according to an analysis of federal spending data the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Association officials cautioned that efforts in Congress to limit the construction industry’s access to potential workers could undermine future infrastructure and economic development projects.
“It is encouraging that most categories of construction, including homebuilding, are growing,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But the numbers would be even more impressive if the industry didn’t have so many unfilled job openings.”
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