Construction employment grows throughout S.C.

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Construction employment grew throughout South Carolina from August 2018 to August 2019, the Associated General Contractors of America found, based on an analysis of federal employment data (.pdf).

Mining, logging and construction jobs in South Carolina grew by a total of 700, a 1% increase, in non-seasonally adjusted numbers. Growth occurred throughout the state’s metropolitan statistical areas, with Greenville-Mauldin-Anderson adding a state-best 1,300 jobs and tying with Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach (700 jobs) for the highest percentage increase at 7%.

Columbia added 400 jobs, a 2% increase, while the Charleston-North Charleston area added 1,000 jobs, a 5% increase. Spartanburg added 400 construction jobs, also a 5% increase.

The Dallas-Plano-Irving metro area added the most construction jobs during the past year with 12,400, while the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia area saw the largest job loss at minus-2,900.

While construction employment grew in 252 out of 358 metro areas, a recent survey by the AGC found 80% of contractors are having difficulty finding workers.

Employers are increasing pay and benefits and offering training programs to lure more employees, the survey found, but some firms say they have had to extend construction schedules and charge more for projects. Of the companies surveyed, 46% reported that projects took longer than expected, and 45% percent said costs were higher.

“Despite the many steps this industry is taking, there are still too many high-paying construction career positions that remain vacant,” said Stephen Sandherr, AGC CEO.

The AGC said construction spending increased nationwide 0.1% from July to August but declined 1.9% from 2018 levels, based on U.S. Census Bureau numbers. The seasonally adjusted annual rate of construction spending in August was $1.287 trillion.

Public construction spending increased 0.4% for the month and 4.6% year-to-date, while private nonresidential spending fell 1% from July and 0.1% year-to-date. Private residential construction spending increased 0.9% for the month but fell 5% year-to-date.