The first-ever Quarterly Data Report just released by the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) contains both current and projected information for construction industry employment.

Employment Trends and Projections in Construction draws on U.S. Government data sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to produce a summary of the construction employment picture.

Civil construction still down

“With two consecutive years of solid growth in construction employment, it's looking more and more like the downturn is well in our rear-view mirror,” said CPWR Executive Director Pete Stafford. We haven't bounced back to pre-crisis employment, though -- construction employment in heavy and civil construction is still down 7% from 2007 levels, and building construction employment is off by more than 20% -- so there's still much work to be done.”

Stafford noted that the report allows people to “dive into the details” and learn how employment in their trade or state is faring, and also discover how our industry's shifts have affected union density.

More brickmasons, carpenters

The report also contains employment projections for different construction sectors and trades in the decade to come. BLS analysts forecast construction employment growth outstripping the industry as a whole, with brickmasons, cement masons, insulators, carpenters and laborers increasing their ranks by more than 30% between 2012 and 2022.

“The Data Center extends this picture by examining the anticipated employment growth by state: if current projections hold, the West and Southeast are in for large construction employment increases,” said Stafford.

Click Employment Trends and Projections in Construction to read the entire Data Report, or to download the charts for your own use in research and presentations.

The CPWR is dedicated to reducing occupational injuries, illnesses and fatalities in the construction industry through our research, training, and service programs.