Construction Employment Drops Again, 35,000 Workers Lose Jobs in May

Construction employment declined in May as 35,000 workers lost jobs, offsetting most of the increases the industry experienced in March and April, according to a new analysis of federal employment figures by AGC. Meanwhile, the construction unemployment rate was at 20.1 percent, more than twice the national rate. The figures show how fragile the sector is despite recent increases in stimulus funding activity, association officials noted.  “Growing stimulus activity was clearly offset by weak private sector demand and diminished state and local construction budgets last month,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist.  “Unfortunately, construction employment is likely to remain both relatively low and unstable until at least early 2011.” Click here to read the release. The news was covered by Engineering News-Record, Daily Reporter and Daily Commercial News & Construction Record, among others.