Construction spending inched down less than 0.1 percent in January, following a large upward revision in December and November, according to a new analysis of federal data released today by AGC. All forms of residential construction did well for the month and year-over-year, while private nonresidential spending was mixed and public construction declined amid continued congressional delays in passing a host of long-term infrastructure and tax measures.

Construction employment remains below peak levels in 329 out of 337 metro areas, according to a new analysis released today by AGC. Given the continued weakness in construction employment, AGC urged Congress to pass years-late infrastructure measures, including legislation to fund highway, transit and aviation construction work.“What makes these job losses even more frustrating is the fact that many of them could have been avoided,” said AGC’s chief executive officer, Stephen E. Sandherr. “Thousands more construction workers would be employed today if Congress wasn’t years late in passing measures like the highway and transit bill.”Sandherr said that AGC is working with groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to push for passage of a new, fully-funded surface transportation bill as part of an effort called Make Transportation Job #1.To read the full press release, click here.View the new construction employment figures by state or by rank.      

The cost of construction materials is showing signs of accelerating after moderating in January, according to an analysis of producer price index figures and recent market information released today by AGC. Ongoing price increases underscore the urgency of funding public construction projects promptly, AGC officials said.

The construction industry added 21,000 jobs in January, as a second consecutive month of unseasonably mild winter weather helped the industry raise employment to a two-year high, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released today by AGC.  Association officials cautioned that the gains remain fragile amid declining public sector investments in construction and infrastructure.

Construction employment increased in 148 out of 337 metropolitan areas between December 2010 and December 2011, decreased in 128 and stayed level in 61, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by AGC.  The construction employment increases were likely fueled by a 4.3 percent increase in total construction spending between December 2010 and December 2011, driven largely by growing private sector demand, AGC officials noted.

Construction employment rose in 28 states and the District of Columbia between December 2010 and December 2011, the largest number of states with year-over-year employment gains since November 2007, according to an analysis by AGC of America of Labor Department data. In contrast, 24 states plus D.C. lost jobs between November and December 2011, while 23 states added construction jobs for the month.

Significantly fewer construction firms are planning to make layoffs in 2012 than at any point in the past few years according to survey results released today by AGC and Computer Guidance Corporation. The survey, conducted as part of the 2012 Construction Industry Hiring and Business Outlook, shows many firms expect key private sector market segments to expand this year even as the overall outlook remains mixed.

Five years after states first started shedding construction jobs, construction employment remains below peak levels in all fifty states and the District of Columbia according to a new analysis released today by AGC. Given the continued weakness in construction employment, AGC is launching a new effort to encourage Congress to pass years-late legislation to fund highway, bridge and transit construction work.

The amount contractors pay for a range of key construction materials edged down 0.2 percent in December but climbed 5.3 percent from a year earlier, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released today by AGC. Meanwhile, the amount contractors charge to construct projects remained largely flat for the month and is up only between 3.3 and 4.7 percent for the year, cutting into contractor earnings and adding to the challenges the hard-hit industry is facing, AGC officials said.

The unemployment rate for construction workers in December was 16 percent, not seasonally adjusted, nearly double the rate for all workers. Yet the number of unemployed construction workers has fallen to the point that some companies may soon have trouble attracting the particular workers they need. How can this be?