Nearly 14,000 new jobs in highway and street construction were added in June as summer projects across the country began in earnest, says a new report issued by the Washington-based American Road & Transportation Builders Association.
The job increases were also noted in bridge construction work.
Perhaps more surprising, industry numbers were up over June 2019 levels, which saw 384,200 employed in highway, street, and bridge work. As June of this year, the total stood at around 384,800.
The transportation construction numbers have been gently sloping upwards for most of the year with under 300,000 workers recorded for January, and just over 350,000 in June.
At the same time, overall construction nationally stood at 7.4 million workers, up from previous months, but still down from the 7.7 million recorded last summer.
An ARTBA report issued last month additionally noted that state and local governments in June had awarded just under $11 billion in transportation contracts, an increase of nearly $3 billion over the previous June.
In looking at the contracts picture, Alison Premo Black, ARTBA chief economist, noted in a press release: “Although some states have announced project delays, overall work continues to get in the construction pipeline.”
By Garry Boulard
