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Private-Sector Demand Pushes Number of Unemployed Construction Workers to Lowest Level in Ten Years as Firms Boost Pay by 3.2 Percent to Attract Workers, But Firms that Rely on Public-Sector Lost Jobs This Year

Construction employers added 11,000 jobs in October as employment in the sector is at the highest level since December 2008 despite declines in public sector investments in construction projects, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that average hourly earnings for construction workers increased by 3.2 percent compared to 12 months ago as firms continue to expand amid shortages of available qualified workers.

“There is a two-part story in construction right now as private-sector demand continues to boost employment while declining public-sector demand is contributing to year-over-year declines in heavy and civil engineering construction,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “Overall construction employment would certainly be higher if local, state and federal officials were investing more to build new and repair aging infrastructure.”

Construction employment totaled 6,679,000 in October, an increase of 11,000 from September and 195,000 or 3.0 percent from a year ago. The annual rate of increase in construction employment was nearly twice as fast as the 1.7 percent increase for total nonfarm payroll employment. There were 512,000 unemployed jobseekers in October who last worked in the construction industry, the lowest total for October in 10 years, Simonson added.

Residential construction—comprising residential building and specialty trade contractors—added 4,500 jobs in October and 139,700, or 5.6 percent, compared to a year ago. Nonresidential construction—building, specialty trades, and heavy and civil engineering construction firms—added 6,700 jobs for the month and gained 55,000 employees compared to October 2015, a 1.4 percent rise. Construction employment is up year-over-year for all segments except heavy and civil engineering construction, which lost 1,200 jobs since October 2015 amid declining public-sector investments in construction.

As the available supply of workers continues to shrink, average hourly earnings, a measure of wages and salaries for all workers, increased 3.2 percent in construction over the past year to $28.39 in October, nearly 10 percent more than for all nonfarm jobs, the economist noted. For the private nonfarm sector, earnings rose 2.8 percent over the past 12 months to $25.92.

Association officials noted that private-sector demand for construction is more than offsetting declines in public-sector investments in infrastructure and other public works projects. They added however, that heavy and civil engineering firms likely have the capacity to meet any growth in public-sector demand. They urged Congress to pass a new water resources bill to finance upgrades to waterways and find permanent funding solutions for highway, transit and clean water improvements.

“Even as many firms benefit from strong private-sector construction demand, firms that perform public-sector work continue to struggle with low demand,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “The one silver lining in this is that these firms have the capacity to meet any future growth in public-sector infrastructure investments.”