Jobs added in 2014 are most since 2005; union pay raises inch up; retail metrics improveEditor’s note: Construction Citizen is proud to partner with AGC America to bring you AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson's Data DIGest. Check back each week to get Ken's expert analysis of what's happening in our industry.If you have not already, please help AGC craft its 2015 Construction Business Outlook and take this short survey.Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 252,000 in December, seasonally adjusted, and by 2,952,000 (2.1%) over 12 months, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Friday. Construction employment rose by 48,000 for the month and 290,000 (4.9%) over the year to 6,166,000, the highest total since March 2009 and the largest annual increase since 2005. Residential construction employment (residential building and specialty trade contractors) climbed by 13,500 for the month and 132,100 (6.0%) for the year.   

Most states add jobs but remain below peak; Dodge reports surge in startsEditor’s note:  Construction Citizen is proud to partner with AGC America to bring you AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson's Data DIGest. Check back each week to get Ken's expert analysis of what's happening in our industry.Seasonally adjusted construction employment increased in 38 states and the District of Columbia from November 2013 to November 2014 and decreased in 12 states, an AGC analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released last Friday showed. Texas added the most jobs (47,300 jobs, 7.7%), followed by California (40,800, 6.3%) and Florida (34,900, 9.1%). The largest percentage gains were in North Dakota (16%, 5,300 jobs), Utah (10%, 7,600) and Florida. The largest percentage losses occurred in West Virginia (-11%, -3,800 jobs), Mississippi (-7.9%, -4,200), New Jersey (-4.5%, -6,200), and Nebraska (-4.1%, -1,900). New Jersey lost the most jobs, followed by Arizona (-4,600, -3.7%), Mississippi and West Virginia. For the month, 26 states and D.C. added construction jobs, 22 states lost jobs, and Idaho and Missouri had no change. Only North Dakota, Oklahoma and Louisiana have topped pre-recession construction employment peaks. (BLS combines mining and logging with construction in D.C., Nebraska and five other states to avoid disclosing data for industries with few firms.)  

Construction employment hits 5½ year high in November; spending climbs in OctoberEditor’s note:  Construction Citizen is proud to partner with AGC America to bring you AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson's Data DIGest. Check back each week to get Ken's expert analysis of what's happening in our industry.Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 321,000 in December, seasonally adjusted, and by 2,734,000 (2.0%) over 12 months, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Friday. Construction employment rose by 20,000 for the month and 213,000 (3.6%) over the year to 6,109,000, the highest total since April 2009. Residential construction employment (residential building and specialty trade contractors) climbed by 16,700 for the month and 122,800 (5.6%) for the year. Nonresidential employment (building, specialty trades, and heavy and civil engineering construction) increased by 3,600 in November and 90,100 (2.4%) year-over-year. Average hourly earnings for all employees in construction rose 2.7% from November 2013 to November 2014, the largest year-over-year increase since September 2009 and double the 1.3% increase recorded a year earlier. The number of jobseekers who last worked in construction hit an eight-year low of 629,000 and their unemployment rate fell to the lowest November level in seven years:  

CMD, Dodge, Lodging Econometrics reports imply spending gain; higher ed faces hurdleEditor’s note:  Construction Citizen is proud to partner with AGC America to bring you AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson's Data DIGest. Check back each week to get Ken's expert analysis of what's happening in our industry.Several recent private indicators point to expanding construction activity ahead. The value of nonresidential construction starts grew 11% from October 2013 to October 2014 and 7.5% year-to-date for the first 10 months of 2014 combined compared to the same period last year, CMD (formerly Reed Construction Data) reported last Thursday, based on data it collected. Nonresidential building starts increased 9.8% year-over-year and 5.7% year-to-date, with commercial building categories up 25% and 4.8% respectively, and institutional buildings up 5.2% and 7.6%. Heavy engineering starts climbed 9.8% and 5.7%.