DATA DIGest Report: Construction Employment Flat in September
Construction employment is flat in September, but several other indicators are negative.
The DATA DIGest, Sept. 30-Oct. 4
The two principal indicators of construction activity this week signaled an industry treading water. Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that payroll employment, seasonally adjusted, fell by 43,000 in September after an upwardly revised rise in August of 107,000 (reported a month ago as 39,000). Construction employment, at 6,552,000, was down 1,000 from the (unrevised) August figure and down 122,000 from September 2001. Of BLS's three construction segments, general building contractors employed 1,469,000 in September (up 7,000 or 0.5% from September 2001); heavy construction, except building, employed 895,000 (down 29,000 or 3%); and special trade contractors employed 4,188,000 (down 100,000 or 2%). Construction workers' average hourly earnings rose over the year by 3%, from $18.51 to $19.06, but average weekly earnings climbed by only 2.2% as average weekly hours slipped.