Construction employment increased in 45 states in June from a year earlier, while 33 states added construction jobs from May to June, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials said the job gains were welcome, but that widespread construction labor shortages mean many firms would likely have hired even more workers if they could find qualified candidates.
“Unlike some other parts of the economy, construction is showing no letup in activity,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But with an industry unemployment rate of only 3.6 percent, contractors in many states have had a tough time in recent months finding enough workers to execute all of their projects.”
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