The construction industry will build up significantly by the end of 2017 according to a new report released by the state.
Construction jobs in Arizona are projected to grow nearly 12 percent in the next year and a half. It's the occupational group with the largest spike listed by the Arizona Department of Administration. The percentage change is far ahead of the the second industry on the list -- personal care and service, which is expected to add 7.6 percent more positions.
The trend can be seen across the United States. According to Associated General Contractors of America, construction spending increased by 8 percent in March compared to a year earlier.
“Construction should be a significant contributor to economic growth in the remainder of 2016 and beyond,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “Right now the biggest challenge for contractors in many parts of the country is that they are worried about finding enough qualified workers to meet demand.”
The addition of construction workers in Arizona is a major turnaround from just a couple of years ago. AGC said Arizona lost the most construction jobs of any state in the U.S. in 2014. According to the latest data from AGC, construction employment is around 105,000 in the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale region, which is up from recent years, but still well below the March 2006 high of nearly 180,000.
2015-2017 Occupational Group Percentage Change
- Construction 11.7%
- Personal care and service 7.6%
- Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance 7%
- Food preparation and serving related 7%
- Computer and mathematical 6.5%
