Construction Firms Add 11,000 Employees in October 2016

Words: Dan Kamys4 November 2016 — According to analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America, construction employers added 11,000 jobs in October 2016. Despite declines in public sector investments in construction projects, employment in the sector is at the highest level since December 2008. Association officials noted that average hourly earnings for construction workers increased by 3.2 percent compared to 12 months ago, as firms continue to expand amid shortages of available qualified workers. Construction employment totaled 6,679,000 in October, an increase of 11,000 from September and 195,000 (3.0 percent) from a year ago. The annual rate of increase in construction employment was nearly twice as fast as the 1.7 percent increase for total non-farm payroll employment. There were 512,000 unemployed jobseekers in October who last worked in the construction industry, the lowest total for October in 10 years.

Residential construction added 4,500 jobs in October and 139,700 (5.6 percent) compared to a year ago. Non-residential construction added 6,700 jobs for the month and gained 55,000 employees compared to October 2015, a 1.4 percent gain. Construction employment is up year-over-year for all segments except heavy and civil engineering construction, which lost 1,200 jobs since October 2015.

Average hourly earnings, a measure of wages and salaries for all workers, increased 3.2 percent in construction over the past year to $28.39 in October, nearly 10 percent more than for all non-farm jobs. For the private non-farm sector, earnings rose 2.8 percent over the past 12 months to $25.92.

For the full analysis and commentary, visit www.agc.org.
Masonry Restoration: Why Walls Fail and How We Fix Them
February 2026

Masonry doesn’t crack. Old brick never has issues. Every masonry wall lasts 100 years or more… right? If only that were true. Masonry is one of the most durable building materials ever used, but like all construction, it responds to time, movement, mo

MAP Partner
Read More
MCAA President Jeff Buczkiewicz Testifies To Congress On AI In Masonry
February 2026

On February 11, 2026, Jeff Buczkiewicz, President and CEO of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), testified before the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. He spoke during a hearing titled “Building an AI-Ready America: Safer Workp

Legislative
Read More
Safe Driving, Safe Job: A Masonry Crew's Guide to Vehicle Safety
February 2026

Every day, we load up our trucks and head out to the next job. Our vehicles are more than just a ride; they're our mobile workshops, carrying the tools and materials we need to build our proj

Mason Hill
Safety Library
Read More
MCAA President and CEO Jeff Buczkiewicz To Testify To Congress On AI
February 2026

On February 11, 2026, Jeff Buczkiewicz, President and CEO of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), will testify before the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. Representing a $41 billion industry, Buczkiewicz plans to showcase GEORG

Legislative
Read More