Construction employment increased in 42 states and the District of Columbia in May from a year earlier, while only 24 states added construction jobs from April to May, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials said firms are struggling to find new workers amid a lack of funding for construction education programs, keeping monthly employment gains lower in many parts of the country.
“Contractors remain busy nationwide, with bulging order books for future work,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But they are having trouble filling job openings when the industry unemployment rate is only 3.5 percent. That probably accounts for the recent lack of job gains in many states.”
Read more.