The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in response to today's announcement of new Build America Investment Initiatives By President Obama: "The new Build America Investment initiatives outlined by the Obama administration today will help boost our economy and help rebuild aging infrastructure. The steps being taken by the administration should make it easier for state and local officials to finance a wide variety of projects designed to upgrade aging clean water systems, improve power transmission networks and keep our roads and bridges safe."

Construction employers added 48,000 jobs in December and 290,000 for the year, the largest annual increase since 2005, as the sector's unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent, according to an analysis by AGC of America.

Construction spending edged down in November but outlays for the year remained on track for a modest increase over 2013 totals, according to an analysis by AGC. 

Construction employment expanded in 224 metro areas, declined in 64 and was stagnant in 51 between November 2013 and November 2014, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by AGC. 

Construction firms added jobs in 38 states and the District of Columbia between November 2013 and November 2014 while construction employment increased in 26 states and D.C. between October and November, according to an analysis today of Labor Department data by AGC of America. Association officials noted that the list of states gaining jobs has varied significantly from month to month as the market remains extremely variable.

Construction industry employment hit a new five-year high in November as the sector added 20,000 jobs and its unemployment rate fell to 7.5 percent, the lowest rate for November in seven years, according to an analysis by AGC.

Construction employment expanded in 228 metro areas, declined in 64 and was stagnant in 47 between October 2013 and October 2014, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by AGC. 

Construction spending increased in October amid growing public-sector demand for construction and continued modest growth in residential, according to an analysis by AGC. 

Construction firms added jobs in 37 states and the District of Columbia between October 2013 and October 2014 while construction employment increased in 28 states and the District of Columbia between September and October, according to an analysis today of Labor Department data by AGC. 

Construction employers added 12,000 jobs in October and the sector's unemployment rate fell to 6.4 percent, the lowest rate for October since 2006, according to an analysis released today by AGC of America. Association officials said the construction employment gains, along with rising wages and weekly hours, are consistent with survey results showing more firms having a hard time finding enough qualified workers to fill available positions.