According to an analysis of government data by the Associated General Contractors of America, construction added 11,000 jobs in July, but employment in nonresidential construction remains below pre-pandemic levels. Association officials cite declining demand for projects, especially public infrastructure work, as a reason for the decrease, and urged the passing of the new bipartisan infrastructure measure in Congress.
“Contractors are plagued by soaring materials costs, long or uncertain delivery times, and hesitancy by project owners to commit to construction,” says Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Recovery has been especially slow in infrastructure construction.”
