New homes, apartment buildings and even commercial structures are in construction mode … and with that comes an influx of well-paying construction jobs.
The number of jobs available in the greater Tampa Bay market rose 3 percent in June compared to what it was a year ago to 58,600 workers.Yet, when compared to the rest of the state, that growth is below average, according to a new report by Associated General Contractors of America.
“Contractors have been expanding their work force in about two-thirds of the country for several months in a row,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, in a release. “Some metro areas are adding workers at a strong clip, but the gains remain modest and sporadic in many localities.”
The Fort Walton Beach and Naples area had the largest growth in the state with a 16 percent increase in workers. However, those two areas combined have just a little more than 16,000 construction jobs, a fraction of the Tampa Bay region.
The greater Orlando area, which has the second highest number of construction jobs with 54,900, had an 8 percent increase year over year.
The state added 44,500 construction jobs since June 2013, an increase of 12 percent.
Builders are facing a challenge where some federal infrastructure and construction programs could be in jeopardy. AGCA members are asking Congress to pass a continuing resolution that would set federal spending levels for next year, and to enact long-term surface transportation legislation. Having these measures, they say, would make it easier for many construction firms to make hiring, purchasing and expansion plans.
“It is hard to make sound business decisions when you don’t know how much work will be available in the near future,” said Stephen Sandherr, the association’s chief executive, in a release.
