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    Analysis

    July 2, 2021

    AGC: Construction Employment Declines Again in June

    Written by David Schollaert

    Construction employment declined again in June, the fourth time in the past five months, according to an analysis of government data by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Construction employment totaled 7,410,000 in June, down 7,000 from the revised May total. The June total remained 238,000 or 3.1% below February 2020, before the pandemic stalled construction activity. 

    The number of former construction workers who were unemployed in June, 730,000, dropped a quarter from a year ago and the sector’s unemployment rate fell from 10.1% in June 2020 to 7.5% this June. Association officials said that job losses in nonresidential construction offset modest monthly gains in residential construction due to worker shortages, supply chain disruptions, and rising materials costs.

    David Schollaert

    David Schollaert is deputy editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. David joined SMU after more than a decade in the metals and mining industry in a myriad of different roles. Much of his early experience and expertise were within the coverage and analysis of steel-making raw materials and served previously as senior editor of the CRU Prices Service. Most recently, however, before his return to market analysis, David held roles as a metals buyer and an operations manager for raw material suppliers. He can be contacted at david@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-720-1008.

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