Association Survey Conducted This Week Suggests Industry鈥檚 Job Losses are Spreading Rapidly; Officials Call for Additional Federal Measures to Help Avoid Further Layoffs and Economic Pain
The fast-worsening covid-19 pandemic has triggered layoffs at more than a quarter of construction firms responding to an online survey released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The finding, based on responses from earlier this week, contrasts with the government鈥檚 monthly employment report for March, which found that construction employment declined by 29,000 as of mid-March.
鈥淭he March employment data does a better job reflecting market conditions before the pandemic than it does the widespread disruptions that have occurred during the past few weeks,鈥 said Ken Simonson, the association鈥檚 chief economist. He noted that the federal employment figures are based on payrolls as of March 12, when relatively few states or individual owners had directed contractors to stop work. 鈥淥ur survey, meanwhile, indicates rapidly deteriorating labor and market conditions for the construction sector.鈥