Construction employment expanded in 36 states and the District of Columbia between August 2014 and August 2015 while only 25 states added jobs between July and August, according to an analysis today of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that job gains may be lagging as many firms report they are having a hard time finding qualified workers to employ.
“While half the states added construction jobs in August, construction spending data and industry reports suggest demand for projects remains very strong," said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association. “The apparent softness in hiring likely reflects contractors’ difficulty in finding qualified workers.” Read full press release here.