Construction employment is increasing in 45 of 50 U.S. States
Construction employment increased in 45 states in February compared with a year ago, according to analysis of federal employment data by the Associated General Contractors of America.
AGC officials have urged Congress and the Biden administration to increase funding for career and technical education and to open doors to permit foreign workers with construction experience to more easily enter the country legally.
Most construction firms report trouble finding enough workers to keep pace with demand. Many contractors are opting not to bid on projects as a result, because they simply do not have the staffing to complete and deliver the work, according to AGC.
“To fill these important roles, ABC is working hard to recruit, educate and upskill the construction workforce through our national network of more than 800 apprenticeship, craft, safety and management education programs—including more than 300 government-registered apprenticeship programs across 20 different construction occupations—to build the people who build America.”
“ABC members invested $1.6 billion in 2021 to educate 1.3 million course attendees to build a construction workforce that is safe, skilled and productive.”
In 2024, the industry will need to bring in more than 342,000 new workers on top of normal hiring to meet industry demand, and that’s presuming that construction spending growth slows significantly next year.
