US construction employment expanded in 36 states and the District of Columbia between August 2014 and August 2015 while only 25 states added jobs between July and August, according to an analysis Friday of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that job gains may be lagging as many firms report they are having a hard time finding qualified workers to employ.
“While half the states added construction jobs in August, construction spending data and industry reports suggest demand for projects remains very strong," said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association. “The apparent softness in hiring likely reflects contractors’ difficulty in finding qualified workers.”
AGC officials noted that the association released a survey last week that showed 86 percent of contractors reported trouble filling hourly or salaried professional positions. They added that these shortages appear to be having an impact on the sector’s recovery and urge federal, state and local officials to act on the measures outlined in the association’s Workforce Development Plan to reinvigorate the craft worker training pipeline.
“While construction employment increased in more than two-thirds of the states over the past year, these gains may fade in the near future unless the industry can attract more people to try construction as a career,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer.