The construction unemployment rate jumped to 18.8% in November as the sector lost another 5,000 jobs since October, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The data indicates that the construction sector has suffered more than any other industry during the economic downturn, association officials said.
"The unemployment report shows construction still has not broken free of the recession that has gripped the industry since 2006," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "Other than the stimulus and other temporary federal programs, it has been a pretty bleak four yours for the industry."
Simonson noted that the construction industry has lost 2.1 million jobs since employment in the sector peaked in August 2006. He added that the sector has continued to lose jobs during the past twelve months even as overall private employment has picked up. Since November 2009, the industry has lost 117,000 jobs while the private sector added 1,088,000 jobs. The industry's 18.8% unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, also was the highest of any industry and roughly double the overall unemployment rate.
The only construction segment to add jobs in the past year has been heavy and civil engineering construction, which has benefitted from federal stimulus, military base realignment, and Gulf Coast hurricane-prevention projects, Simonson observed. Meanwhile, residential construction has lost 79,000 jobs over the past twelve months, while nonresidential specialty trade contractors and nonresidential building - the other two segments in the nonresidential category - have lost 62,000 jobs.
Association officials cautioned that the stimulus and other temporary federal programs would begin winding down in 2011, most likely before private, state or local demand for construction picks up. They urged Congress and the Administration to act on a series of long-delayed infrastructure bills for water, transportation and other infrastructure programs.
"We're hoping Congress doesn't cut off federal investments that are almost single-handedly keeping this industry together," said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive office. "Even the Deficit Commission understands that the one thing we can't afford to do as a nation is neglect our infrastructure," Sandherr added, referring to the commission's proposal to raise the gas tax to fund transportation upgrades.
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Jan 24, 2018
Apartment rent rates jump 2.5% in 2017, led by small and mid-sized markets
The average price for one-bedroom units increased the most.
Hotel Facilities | Jan 24, 2018
U.S. hotel markets with the largest construction pipelines
Dallas, Houston, and New York lead the way, with more than 460 hotel projects in the works.
Architects | Jan 24, 2018
Strong finish for architecture billings in 2017
The Architecture Billings Index concluded the year in positive terrain, with the December reading capping off three straight months of growth in design billings.
Architects | Jan 10, 2018
7 steps to ending a low growth cycle
Here are the top 10 marketing techniques as rated by high-growth firms and how they compare to their no-growth counterparts.
Big Data | Jan 5, 2018
In the age of data-driven design, has POE’s time finally come?
At a time when research- and data-based methods are playing a larger role in architecture, there remains a surprisingly scant amount of post-occupancy research. But that’s starting to change.
Multifamily Housing | Jan 4, 2018
Shigeru Ban’s mass timber tower in Vancouver gets city approval
The 232-foot-tall Terrace House luxury condo development will be the tallest hybrid wood structure in North America.
Contractors | Jan 4, 2018
Construction spending in a ‘mature’ period of incremental growth
Labor shortages are spiking wages. Materials costs are rising, too.
Contractors | Jan 2, 2018
Construction jobs increase in 40 states between November 2016 and November 2017
"There were robust construction gains in most parts of the country as the economy continues to expand," said AGC’s Stephen Sandherr.
Green | Dec 22, 2017
Green builders can use ‘big data’ to make design decisions
More and more, green project teams are relying on publicly available “external datasets” to prioritize sustainable design decisions, says sustainability consultant Adele Houghton.