Construction employment fell in May by 28,000, the largest decline in two years, and is now at the lowest level since last August, according to an analysis of new federal data released today by 51·çÁ÷. Â
51·çÁ÷ held a May 25 media event in Tallahassee, Fla., in coordination with member firm Vulcan Materials Co., to announce how the area lost another 300 construction jobs between April 2011 and April 2012, while employment levels throughout Florida dropped to their lowest levels since 1990.
Construction employment declined in 157 out of 337 metropolitan areas between April 2011 and April 2012, increased in 120 and stayed level in 60, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by 51·çÁ÷. Association officials said that construction employment continues to suffer from relatively weak demand being driven largely by declines in public sector investments.
51·çÁ÷ of America today joined with 10 other national business associations in calling on the Obama administration to reconsider a series of new hiring mandates it wants to impose on contractors working on federal projects. Association officials noted that the government has failed to produce any data justifying the very costly and incredibly prescriptive new hiring mandates.
Construction employment remained on a seesaw in April as only 19 states added jobs, 28 states and the District of Columbia had declines and three states maintained March employment levels, according to an analysis by 51·çÁ÷ of Labor Department data.
Population is still growing in the United States, unlike many developed countries. That is good news for contractors, because demand for construction ultimately depends on economic growth, population growth and relocation of both economic activity and people.
The cost of construction materials took a breather in April, while contractors showed slightly greater ability to roll past price increases into their bids, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by 51·çÁ÷.Â
The construction industry lost 2,000 jobs in April, following similar declines of 3,000 in March and 1,000 in February, but still added 63,000 jobs over the past year as the industry unemployment rate shrank to 14.5 percent—the lowest April level in four years, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that lack of long-term federal highway and transit funding, along with other infrastructure budget cuts, threatens to limit construction job growth.
Construction employment increased in 155 out of 337 metropolitan areas between March 2011 and March 2012, decreased in 134 and stayed level in 48, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by 51·çÁ÷. Association officials said that fewer metro areas added construction jobs in March compared to February because of disruptions to typical hiring patterns caused by weather.
Sixty-eight percent of the nation’s highway contractors had motor vehicles crash into their construction work zones during the past year, according to the results of a new highway work zone study conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials added that the study found those work zone crashes are more likely to kill construction workers than they are to kill vehicle operators or passengers.