Even as the Obama administration looks to pump more stimulus money into the marketplace, contractors are pointing to challenges of turning existing funds into new or saved jobs. Firms report some stimulus progress in stabilizing their workforce, but nonresidential construction job losses won’t end in 2009.
While construction job losses slowed last month to 59,000, industry unemployment is now at 19.2%, compared to 9.4% overall in the U.S., says Ken Simonson, Associated General Contractors’ chief economist. “Homebuilding has hit bottom, but nonresidential still has a ways to fall,” he adds.