Construction Job Gains May Take Hit From Shutdown

ARLINGTON, VA-Construction employment rose nationwide by 20,000 in September from the month prior, bringing employment in the sector to a six-year September low of 8.5%. However, the Associated General Contractors of America says the strenght of the month’s gains may not be repeated when the October numbers come in, thanks in large measure to the government shutdown.

“The industry was doing relatively well before the federal government shutdown forced many firms to hit the pause button,” says Ken Simonson, the AGC’s chief economist. “But the shutdown likely disrupted a wide variety of projects and may have caused private investors and developers to delay decisions about new projects or plant expansions. As a result, future spending and hiring gains may be weaker.”