AGC: Construction Employment Fell in April Because of Labor Shortage

Construction employment edged up by just 2,000 jobs in April because contractors scrambled to find workers in an increasingly tight labor market, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) reported.

“The pause in employment gains last month most likely signifies a shortage of qualified workers rather than any slowdown in demand for projects,” AGC chief economist Ken Simonson said. “In fact, job openings in construction hit an all-time high at the end of March, while the industry’s unemployment rate was the lowest ever recorded for April.”

Construction

David Schollaert

David Schollaert is a senior analyst for Steel Market Update. David joined SMU after more than a decade in the metals and mining industry in a myriad of different roles. Much of his early experience and expertise were within the coverage and analysis of steel-making raw materials and served previously as senior editor of the CRU Prices Service. Most recently, however, before his return to market analysis, David held roles as a metals buyer and an operations manager for raw material suppliers. Based in CRU’s Pittsburgh office, David can be reached at david@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-720-1008.

David Schollaert

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