Steel Markets
January 6, 2018
Construction Employment Highest Since 2008
Written by Sandy Williams
The construction industry gained 30,000 jobs in December for its highest employment level since September 2008. Construction employment totaled 6,993,000 in December, according to government data analyzed by the Associated General Contractors of America. During 2017, 210,000 jobs were added for a 3.1 percent annual increase.
“Employment and pay in construction have risen more rapidly over the past year than in the economy overall as the supply of unemployed experienced workers continues to shrink,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Construction pay is now almost 10 percent higher than the private-sector average. Nevertheless, contractors report increasing difficulty filling many types of hourly craft and salaried openings, given the low rate of unemployment throughout the economy, including construction.”
