AGC: Construction added 23,000 jobs in February

“Nonresidential contractors stepped up their hiring in February, but job openings and spending data released earlier this month suggest hiring would be even more robust if construction firms could find enough qualified workers,” the association’s chief economist, Ken Simonson, said in a press release.

Seasonally adjusted construction employment totaled 8,162,000, or 0.3% more than last month’s upwardly revised total, the release said.

The construction sector has added 215,000 jobs over the previous 12 months. Most of those positions have been at nonresidential construction firms, heavy and civil engineering construction firms, and specialty trade contractors.

Association officials say that not enough future workers are exposed to construction as possible.

“Washington wants new infrastructure and construction projects but doesn’t seem willing to invest in encouraging Americans to work in construction or to allow others to pursue the American dream via this industry,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO.

Government reports on job openings and construction spending earlier this month show demand for construction workers and projects remains solid, Simonson said.

Job openings in construction, not seasonally adjusted, at the end of January, totaled 407,000, topping 352,000 workers hired. The data, said Simonson, “implies that contractors want to hire far more workers than they can find.”

The AGC argues that funding for construction education and training programs needs to be driven on a federal level to ensure that interest in construction careers keeps pace with the strong demand, especially given that “much of that demand is being driven by federal investments.”

“The construction industry can rebuild our economy and create great careers in the process, but it can’t do either without workers,” Sandherr said.