Construction employment increased by 4,000 jobs in July and by 202,000, or 2.8 percent, over the past 12 months, while the number of unemployed jobseekers with construction experience rose, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that many firms likely would have added more employees last month if more were available.
"Job gains in construction have slowed markedly in recent months but the industry is still increasing employment nearly twice as much as other employers," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "The recent slowdown in hiring and construction spending may reflect contractors' difficulty in finding enough qualified workers, rather than a downturn in demand for projects."