The past year hasn’t been a good one for the construction business.
In fact, between May 2009 and May of this year, 294 of the nation’s 337 metropolitan areas saw construction employment decline, according to a report from the Associated General Contractors of America.
Erie County was no exception. Construction employment here fell slightly from 4,000 to 3,900.
The ACG reports construction employment grew in 16 markets and held steady in another 27.
The group doesn’t seem to be suggesting that the Obama administration’s $787 billion stimulus program failed.
Instead, the contractors’ group argues that contractors are reluctant to add to their payrolls because of uncertainty over what will happen when the stimulus money has been spent.
The group is urging Congress and the White House to pass a number of multiyear infrastructure bills to help ease that uncertainty.
– Jim Martin