Construction sector employment increased by 13,000 positions in March as rising wages enabled the industry to add workers more rapidly than other sectors, according to an analysis of new government data the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Association officials cautioned that newly announced tariffs and potential retaliatory measures from U.S. trading partners have the potential to undermine future employment growth in the sector.
“Contractors added employees at a faster clip than other sectors in March, as pay for construction craft workers outpaced wages for production workers in the overall private sector,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “However, as steep new tariffs and foreign countries’ retaliatory measures take effect, building costs will rise and projects will be put on hold, posing a threat to employment.”
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