Construction: Sector Remains Strong Despite Workforce And Federally Induced Challenges

By: Brandon Richardson

Growth in the construction industry is strong and very well distributed by sector and geography, according to experts. The nation’s low unemployment rate and recent actions by the federal government have presented challenges for companies to overcome, but have not impacted the demand for work.

“Right now, things are busy, which means it’s good, and we anticipate that it will remain busy through the end of the year,” Clayton Miller, executive vice president at Southern California Contractors Association, said. “But it has been a little difficult to find the employees that are needed.”

According to Kenneth Simonson, chief economist at The Associated General Contractors of America, a lack of qualified workers has plagued the construction industry for several years. However, he said the issue has been compounded by an 18-year low unemployment rate in all construction sectors and a decline in foreign-born workers due to more stringent immigration enforcement.

Read more on the Long Beach Business Journal