Associated General Contractors 2012 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook report states that only 9% companies are planning to lay off workers this year, and that 32% plan to add new staff.
While construction material prices continue to rise and bid prices remain low, the construction industry now shows 16% unemployment, a 21% decrease from a few years ago, according to Stephen Sandherr, CEO of Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America.
“Construction firms added 50,000 new employees in 2011, even though federal construction projects shrank sharply and there was a 6% cut in federal construction,” he said during a media conference call. “In 2012, construction outlook remains mixed. Conditions are stabilizing, but recovery is not expected until 2013.”
Sandherr presented the results of AGC’s 2012 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook report based on survey carried out on more than 1,300 construction firms from 50 American States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
“Only 9% of construction firms are planning to lay off in 2012 compared with 37% last year and 55% in 2010,” Sandherr said. “And 32% of firms report they plan to add new staff in 2012. Half of those firms report plans to add six or more new employees during the next 12 months.”