Steel Products Prices North America
AGC: Construction Jobs Rise in 24 States
Written by Becca Moczygemba
March 28, 2023
About half of the US added construction jobs from January to February, according to Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) figures.
Month over month (MoM), construction employment increased in 24 states, held constant in six states, and declined in 20 states and Washington, D.C. Year-over-year (YoY) construction employment increased in 45 states. California added the most jobs MoM with 7,600 new jobs, while Tennessee saw the largest drop, losing 1,700 jobs.
“Unfavorable weather may have held back construction in many states last month compared to January,” Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, said in a statement. “But construction employment continued to expand almost everywhere in February compared to a year ago, despite a slump in homebuilding.”
AGC officials said many construction firms are struggling to find enough workers to keep up with demand, resulting in firms opting out of bidding on projects. AGC officials have also reached out to Congress, requesting a boost in funding for career and technical education.
“Infrastructure, the new green economy, and semiconductor plants don’t build themselves, they need people,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “If federal officials are so eager to build these kinds of facilities, they should be willing to invest in the people needed to build them.”
By Becca Moczygemba, becca@steelmarketupdate.com
Becca Moczygemba
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