The construction industry added 21,000 jobs in June, growing 3.2% compared with the same period last year, according to an Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) analysis.
The unemployment rate for construction workers dropped 4% during June.
“Construction firms continue to go to great lengths to recruit and retain workers during one of the tightest labor markets many of them have ever experienced,” AGC CEO Stephen E. Sandherr stated. “Making matters worse, relatively few school districts offer the kind of career and technical education programs that signal to students that they should explore careers in high-paying fields like construction.”
Hourly earnings in construction jumped 3.2% year-over-year to an average of $30.73—10% higher than the private sector average of $27.90, according to AGC.
The full AGC report can be found here.
