Construction Industry Adds 16,000 Jobs in August, Nonresidential Contractors Struggle To Fill Slots

Construction firms added 16,000 jobs in August, according to an analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said their newly released survey, conducted with Autodesk, showed contractors are eager to hire more employees but are being stymied by a lack of qualified workers.

“Nonresidential construction activity is growing but contractors universally report difficulty hiring as many workers as they need,” says Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “With the industry unemployment rate hovering below 4 percent, finding qualified applicants is sure to remain a major challenge."