December Construction Jobs at Highest Level Since September 2008

Construction employment added 30,000 jobs in December to reach 6.99 million in total, the highest level since September 2008, according to an analysis of government data from the Associated General Contractors of America.

Construction employment gained 210,000 jobs over 2017, a 3.1 percent increase compared with 2016, the report said. The full-year growth rate for construction jobs was more than double the 1.4 percent rise in total non-farm employment.

"Employment and pay in construction have risen more rapidly over the past year than in the economy overall, as the supply of unemployed, experienced workers continues to shrink," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist, in a statement. "Construction pay is now almost 10 percent higher than the private-sector average. Nevertheless, contractors report increasing difficulty filling many types of hourly craft and salaried openings, given the low rate of unemployment throughout the economy, including construction."