Construction Industry Adds 20k jobs

The construction industry added 20,000 jobs in August, which is good news in spite of the fact that the 142,000 total jobs created during the month was considered disappointing. According the Ken Simonsen, Chief Economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, year-over-year construction employment increased in 223 U.S. metro areas, decreased in 72 metro areas, and was static in 44. In some areas, companies are finding it difficult to find skilled labor. Perhaps the shortage of labor will increase wages, which were flat (aggregated for the entire U.S.) from July to August.