US construction employment outlook mixed: AGC

Thursday, 22 March 2012 00:38:08 (GMT+3)   |  
       

US construction employment declined in 111 out of 337 metropolitan areas between January 2011 and January 2012, increased in 169 and stayed level in 57, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released Tuesday by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

"The mixed construction employment results reflect the conflict between slowly rebounding private sector demand for construction and declining public sector investments," said Ken Simonson, Chief Economist for AGC. "For every metro area that is adding construction jobs, there is another one where construction employment continues to fall or is stagnant."
 
In the report, association officials said that the mixed construction employment numbers would have shown improvement if US politicians had not delayed the passing of a number of key infrastructure measures to fund highway, transit, water and utility maintenance and upgrades.

"What makes these jobs figures so frustrating is that they could, and should, have been much better," said Stephen E. Sandherr, CEO of AGC. "There is a growing sense among the broader business community that the economy is being held back by Washington's failure to reach agreement on legislation everyone agrees is essential."


Similar articles

Canadian housing starts decline month-on-month, but hold steady in six-month average

08 Nov | Steel News

US construction spending up 8.4 percent year-on-year in March

05 May | Steel News

US home sales increase year-on-year in December

28 Jan | Steel News

Construction unemployment rate in US still falls despite weather-related hindrances

14 Jan | Steel News

November housing permits, starts and completions in the US rise year-on-year

19 Dec | Steel News

US construction unemployment falls to 8.6 percent in November

09 Dec | Steel News

Housing sales in the US increase in October

05 Dec | Steel News

US construction unemployment rate falls to five-year low

05 Aug | Steel News

US ABI score positive in June as new projects surge

25 Jul | Steel News

Construction employment boosts figures in US and Canada

10 Jun | Steel News