Construction employment totalled 6,809,000 in January, an increase of 36,000 from the upwardly revised December total and an increase of 170,000 or 2.6 percent from a year ago, according to a report from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).
Construction employment in the US increased by 36,000 jobs in January to the highest level since November 2008. Employers increased pay to address a skilled worker shortage.
In a survey that the association released in January, 73 percent of the 1,281 participating contractors said they planned to add to their headcount in 2017. But an equally high percentage said they were having trouble filling hourly or salaried positions. End-of-month openings in construction have been at 17-year highs, according to recent government data. The AGC urged public officials to strengthen training and education programs to prepare more workers as the construction industry wishes to add more skilled workers.
Residential construction—comprising residential building and specialty trade contractors—added 20,300 jobs in January and 128,200, or 5.0 percent, compared to a year ago. Non-residential construction (building, specialty trades, and heavy and civil engineering construction) employment increased by 14,900 employees in January and 41,600 employees, or 1.0 percent, over 12 months.