AGC: New measures needed to offset construction employment declines

By |  April 21, 2020

The Associated General Contractors of AmericaConstruction employment declined in 20 states and the District of Columbia in March, aligning with the results of a recent survey the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) conducted that found growing layoffs amid new project cancellations and state funding constraints.

AGC officials warned that these cancellations mean massive job losses are likely to occur soon in even more states unless Congress helps cover rapidly declining state revenues, adds funding for Paycheck Protection Program loans and takes other measures to help the industry recover.

“While construction employment declined in many parts of the country last month, far more states, local governments and project owners have halted construction in the five weeks since the government collected this data,” says Ken Simonson, AGC’s chief economist. “Our two latest surveys show a steep rise in cancellations of scheduled projects, which is leading to furloughs and terminations for both jobsite and office workers.”

New data

AGC released an analysis of new government data that showed construction employment decreased in 20 states and the District of Columbia from February to March. Construction employment held steady in six states and increased in 24 states.

Simonson notes that the figures represent a rapid deterioration in a previously vibrant job market for construction. Over the 12 months ending in March, construction employment declined in only seven states and the District of Columbia. They held steady in two states and increased in 41 states.

According to Simsonson, the data is based on employment as of March 12 – before most states or owners began curtailing construction.

April survey

In the association’s latest online survey, conducted April 6-9, 53 percent of the 830 respondents report that a project owner had ordered a halt or cancellation to a current or upcoming project. The share of respondents reporting cancellations jumped to 19 percent from 7 percent a week earlier, suggesting that the volume of work will shrink rapidly once current projects finish.

Another impediment to construction – listed by 27 percent of respondents – comes from state and local officials who have ordered construction shutdowns.

The survey also found that 40 percent of respondents had furloughed or terminated workers by April 9, an increase from 31 percent just a week earlier. While 36 percent of firms reported furloughs or terminations of jobsite workers, layoffs also affected office and other workers at 18 percent of firms.

Looking ahead

AGC officials warned that construction job losses were likely to accelerate in many states amid the coronavirus pandemic. They added those job losses will get worse now that several states have canceled or significantly delayed planned highway projects because the pandemic has resulted in dramatic declines in gas tax revenues.

AGC officials urge Congress and the Trump administration to provide funding to cover the lost revenue to protect existing jobs and make sure roads are repaired at a time when traffic is relatively light. They also urge Washington officials to invest more funds in the now-depleted Paycheck Protection Program and other forms of infrastructure.

“There is a historic opportunity to repair aging roads and other types of infrastructure,” says Stephen Sandherr, AGC’s CEO. “Without more funding from Washington, government officials will not have the resources necessary to improve the nation’s infrastructure and protect tens of thousands of construction jobs.”

View the state employment data, rankings and highs and lows.


For additional P&Q coverage related to the coronavirus, visit our dedicated webpage.

Kevin Yanik

About the Author:

Kevin Yanik is editor-in-chief of Pit & Quarry. He can be reached at 216-706-3724 or kyanik@northcoastmedia.net.

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