20 AUGUST 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Construction Work on the Rise - Locating Workers Remains an Issue Adapted from Information by the Associated General Contractors of America It’s no secret the construction industry is struggling to find qualified workers. This has lead to construction companies boosting pay and taking other steps to recruit new workers. According to new data from the Associated General Contractors of America, the construction sector added 25,000 jobs in May, while its unemployment rate fell to its second lowest rate for the month. “Demand for construction workers remains strong, outside of homebuilding,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Contractors continue to report their primary challenge is finding qualified workers, not finding projects or most materials.” Over the last 12 months, the sector has added 192,000 jobs, an increase of 2.5%. The unemployment rate among jobseekers with construction experience declined from 3.8% in May 2022 to 3.5%, the second lowest May rate in the 23-year history of the data. A separate government report stated new hires in construction at the end of April totaled 460,000, growing 3% from a year prior. Average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees in construction - covering most on-site craft workers as well as many office workers - jumped by 6% over the year to $34.07 per hour. Construction firms provided a wage “premium” of nearly 19% compared to the average hourly earnings for all privatesector production employees. Association officials also noted the federal government remains one of the biggest obstacles to construction workforce development. For every dollar it invests in technical education, it is spending $5 to encourage students to pursue college degrees and service sector jobs. “Construction demand is strong, firms are looking to hire, and federal officials are investing billions in construction and infrastructure,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “Yet that same federal government is doing its best to discourage students from pursuing high-paying careers in construction.” Although 65% of metro locations reported increased construction employment (from April 2022 to April 2023), many believe more people would be interested in high-paying construction careers if they were simply exposed to the skills and opportunities existing within the industry. “Boosting funding for construction education will show many more future workers and their families that construction should be on the menu of career choices,” Sandherr stated. Editor’s Note: In between our print issues, the WWDR Team prepares an electronic newsletter called E-News Flash by WorldWide Drilling Resource by WorldWide Drilling Resource®. This newsletter is filled with articles not included in our print issue. Based on readership, this was the most popular article of the month. Get in on the action and subscribe today at: worldwidedrillingresource.com C&G WWDR photo. Mfg., Scree Atlan Inc. en & ntic E-mail: atlantic@ce Atlantic-Screen.c Manufactu 302-684-3197 Manholes j Clear PVC Pipe j Inline Chemical Mixers j ell Rehabilitation Produ jW e.net com urers 7 ucts Milton, DE 19968 142 Broadkill Rd ½” - 24 ranging f Perforated of Slotted Fax: 302-384-0643 more! MUCH And j Bailers Sampling j Locking Caps j Filter Sock j Bentonite j 4” from d Pipe dand 3
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