The construction industry added 17,000 employees in December to total 8.05 million—a 2.5% gain compared with December 2022, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America.
“The above-average wages that the construction industry pays have helped contractors add workers,” stated Ken Simonson, AGC’s chief economist. “More than two-thirds of firms in our survey say they plan to expand in 2024 but they expect it will be as hard or harder to do than it was in 2023.”
The construction industry added 17,000 employees in December to total 8.05 million—a 2.5% gain compared with December 2022, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America.
“The above-average wages that the construction industry pays have helped contractors add workers,” stated Ken Simonson, AGC’s chief economist. “More than two-thirds of firms in our survey say they plan to expand in 2024 but they expect it will be as hard or harder to do than it was in 2023.”
Average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees in construction rose 5.1% from last year to $34.92.
Residential building and specialty trade contractors alone grew by 5,500 employees in December and were up 1.2% in total compared with December 2022.
The full AGC report can be found here.