[Construction] Unemployment Rose in 2003

Engineering News Record ^ | January 9, 2004 | anonymous

[snopercod]

The number of unemployed construction workers increased 1.3% last year, with an average of 810,000 workers in the industry looking for work each month. This was 58% more than the monthly average in 2000. Construction’s unemployment rate in 2003 averaged 9.3%, up from 9.2% in 2002 and a low of 6.2% in the peak boom year of 2000.

[snopercod]

How can this be?

[snopercod]

bump

[OldFriend]

Lots and lots of folks working 'under the table'. Most construction jobs are performed by small companies who are under the radar.

With housing starts are record highs during 2003 we can be sure this is a false figure.

[Rebelbase]

Who wants to work jobs that used to pay $13.50/hr 5 years ago that pay $8.00/hr. now? :-)

[elli1]

Part of it is because certain sectors are overbuilt--multi-family. And single family is approaching overbuilt status. Depends on area, of course but I see Central WI as being slightly overbuilt & my brother mentioned the same thing where he lives in NE Colorado/ Nebraska.

[Siamese Princess]

Another example of illegal aliens are taking American jobs. Funny thing, even though many home builders are hiring poorly-paid (and without benefits) webacks, the cost of new housing continues to skyrocket.

[snopercod]

Lots and lots of folks working 'under the table'.

Exactly why the feds floated this absurd "guest worker" program. They're afraid that the gringos will discover that it is possible to survive and thrive under the radar.

[OldFriend]

Doubt you would be surprised at the number of born here americans working under the radar.

When the taxes become confiscatory more people find ways around the system.

[snopercod]

A couple of years ago before I lost my job as an residential electrician, I was making $15 per hour. The boss was charging $60 per hour for my time.

[Jhensy]

Yep, seems like everyone here in Westchester County, NY, has a Jose or Jorge digging their ditches, building their decks, etc.

[dawn53]

We had some major construction work done at our home over the course of 6 months.

All our contractors were white, with white employees, with the exception of the concrete guys (who poured the footings), they were black, and the roofing guys, most were Hispanic, but the owner of the company which is a rather large local company is Hispanic also, so that didn't surprise me.

I have difficulty believing that illegals can obtain the license necessary to do work that is okayed and overseen by city code inspectors.

Maybe if you don't have to work with "city code enforcement" (which is a major pain), you could get away with unlicensed contractors and employees, but it all seemed pretty tightly managed, at least in our city.

[LS]

More "burger flipper" jobs. Ignore them.

[philman_36]

The number of unemployed construction workers increased 1.3% last year, with an average of 810,000 workers in the industry looking for work each month.
How can this be?
Partly answered here from the same site. (nice site, thanx)
Very little on the site about petrochemicals which took a big hit with the war and all. A lot of work was held off to keep up productivity and the work only started again last quarter (first fiscal quarter).
Greatest thing I read there...$30-Billion Energy Bill Has Something for All
The measure’s drafters aim to boost all the major energy segments–oil, gas, coal, nuclear and renewables–which in turn could well give a lift to design and construction work that supports those sectors.

[The Mayor]

I'm one of em..

[iopscusa]

The point is?

[EagleMamaMT]

My husband is a construction worker (crane operator working for a bridge-building company out of Des Moines, IA) and most of both of our families are involved in construction in one form or another. Several factors are involved:

1) Not all states are seeing a rebounding economy yet - Northeastern Oklahoma for one example. My brothers own their own curb and gutter concrete business around Tulsa. Construction startups there are almost nonexistent right now, and the ones that are starting are being staffed with illegals mostly, which also adds to the unemployment rate among construction workers. My brothers have been virtually unemployed for most of the last year. They've had to let all their employees go and have been surviving doing the few small jobs they've been able to get, along with selling off what equipment they can spare.

2) State revenues were down in most states last year so states are diverting money away from things like bridge repair and rebuilding and road repair and spending the monies elsewhere.

3) Weather does play a role in the unemployment picture, too, this time of year in some cases - not all though. My husband's crew usually works no matter what - unless it's so cold it's dangerous for the laborers to be out in the weather.

I'm hoping in spring we'll see a big rebound in construction work. Our coffers could certainly use a little replenishing! :)

[Siamese Princess]

Yep, seems like everyone here in Westchester County, NY, has a Jose or Jorge digging their ditches, building their decks, etc.

That's what it seems to be in my neck of the woods, northeast Jersey. Also I know from what a construction worker neighbor told me.

[meadsjn]

Who wants to work jobs that used to pay $13.50/hr 5 years ago that pay $8.00/hr. now? :-)

$8.00 for illegals paying no taxes provides more take-home pay than $13.50 provides for an American citizen trying to survive.