With the February jobs report that came out earlier this month showing more encouraging signs of growth, the Construction Employers of America highlighted the strength in the performance of the construction industry, particularly that of the specialty trades.
Of the 235,000 jobs created in February, 25 percent were in the construction industry, the group said. It added that the specialty construction trades drove the increase in construction employment, accounting for over 62 percent of the job growth in the construction industry.
“The specialty construction sector continues to demonstrate the vital role it plays in America’s economic resurgence and is, once again, leading employment gains in the construction industry,” Jack Jacobson, spokesperson for the Construction Employers of America, said in a press release. “The skilled, blue collar jobs created in the specialty construction industry are exactly what’s needed to spur sustained economic growth across the country.”
CEA is a coalition of five premier national construction specialty contracting associations, including the National Electrical Contractors Association (a charter member), working together to raise awareness among policymakers, opinion leaders, and the general public, about the value of high-quality American construction. It engages on national, state, and local public policy initiatives to strengthen the domestic construction industry and provide opportunities for top-quality construction workers to earn the skills they need to command high wages.
Over the past twelve months, construction employment overall has grown by 3.3 percent, putting 219,000 construction employees to work. Nationally, construction employment now accounts for 6.88 million jobs, 4.4 million of which are in specialty trade construction. Specialty trade contractors have added 165,600 jobs in the past twelve months (seasonally adjusted), a healthy growth rate given the low level of unemployment nationally.
NECA is the voice of the $130 billion electrical construction industry that brings power, light, and communication technology to buildings and communities across the U.S. NECA’s national office in Bethesda, Md., four regional offices, and 119 local chapters across the country support the electrical contracting industry through advocacy, education, research, and standards development. Visit www.necanet.org for more information.