Steel Products
Construction Employment Expands in February
Written by Sandy Williams
April 4, 2018
Construction employment increased in 257 out of 358 metro areas between February 2017 and February 2018, declined in 50 and stagnated in 51, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America.
“Growing private-sector demand for construction services is prompting construction firms to hire more people to complete projects,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Yet tight labor markets, particularly for qualified construction workers, is making it increasingly difficult for firms to find people to bring on board.”
{loadposition reserved_message}
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif., added the most construction jobs during the past year (12,000 jobs, 13 percent), followed by Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. (9,900 jobs, 9 percent); Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas (9,700 jobs, 7 percent); Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas (9,300 jobs, 4 percent) and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif. (7,700 jobs, 6 percent). The largest percentage gains occurred in the Merced, Calif., metro area (33 percent, 700 jobs) followed by Midland, Texas (22 percent, 5,400 jobs); Lake Charles, La. (21 percent, 4,700 jobs) and Weirton-Steubenville, W.V.-Ohio (21 percent, 300 jobs).
The largest job losses from February 2017 to February 2018 were in Baton Rouge, La. (-6,500 jobs, -12 percent), followed by St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. (-2,500 jobs, -4 percent); Columbia, S.C. (-2,200 jobs, -11 percent); Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (-2,000 jobs, -3 percent) and Middlesex-Monmouth-Ocean, N.J. (-1,700 jobs, -5 percent). The largest percentage decreases for the year were in Auburn-Opelika, Ala. (-38 percent, -1,500 jobs) followed by Baton Rouge, Columbia, S.C. and Kokomo, Ind. (-9 percent, -100 jobs).
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Products
Final Thoughts
The difference: The spat with Turkey was a big deal for steel. This time, the 50% reciprocal tariff for Brazil – if it goes into effect as threatened on Aug.1 – hits everything from coffee and to pig iron. It seems almost custom-built to inflict as much pain as possible on Brazil.
CRU: US rebar and wire rod prices rise alongside S232 increase
CRU Senior Steel Analyst Alexandra Anderson discusses current market and pricing dynamics for long steel products in the US.
CRU: Excessive global supply could hit rebar mill investments in US
Following the onset of the war in Ukraine in March 2022, concerns about import availability and expectations of rising demand from President Biden’s Infrastructure Bill pushed US rebar prices to record highs. In response, a flurry of new mills and capacity expansions were announced to meet the rise in demand from growth in the construction […]
Steel buyer spirits tempered by soft spot market conditions
Steel sheet buyers report feeling bogged down by the ongoing stresses of stagnant demand, news fatigue, tariff negotiations or implementation timelines, and persistent macroeconomic uncertainty.
CRU: US stainless prices to rise on expanded S232 tariffs
Stainless prices in the US market will rise, following price increases by major US producers. Our base case scenario incorporates higher US prices in the near term, despite the initial negative reaction by the market. US stainless prices will go up in 2025 H2 and will stay elevated in 2026 as tariffs on stainless […]