US construction employment and wages increase

Premium Content

09 October 2019

usflag_236207

Construction employment in the US is at the lowest it has been for ten years 

Construction employment increased again from August to September in the US, resulting in around 7,000 jobs being added, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These figures mean that construction unemployment in the US is at 3.2% – the joint lowest it has been in the last decade.

The report also showed that construction wages are at their highest for the last decade. Average hourly earnings are at US$30.81, a year-over-year increase of 66 cents and US$5.93 more than reported in September 2009. 

To put this into a wider context, the national unemployment rate in the US is 3.5%.

Commenting on the figures, Ken Simonson, chief economist at Associated General Contractors of America, said, “Contractors foresee plenty of projects to bid on, and nearly three-fourths of firms expect to add workers during the next twelve months, but most are finding it hard to find qualified workers to hire.”

Latest News
Crane Institute of America appoints L.D. Stutes as GM
Stutes enters this newly created position with 37 years of experience.
Navigating new immigration policies in the construction industry
Joel Dandrea discusses what construction contractors need to know.
Link-Belt veteran William “Skeeter” Collins announces retirement
Collins, a cornerstone of Link-Belt Cranes’ sales team for over 50 years, will retire in February 2025