US construction worker wages hit $34.54 per hour

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The average hourly earnings for production and non-supervisory employees in the US construction industry hit $34.54 in August, according to new figures.

Associated General Contractors of America said the hourly rate for construction employees (covering most onsite craft workers as well as many office workers) was 5.5% higher than the same period a year ago.

It means that construction companies provided a wage ‘premium’ of nearly 19% compared to the average hourly earnings for all private-sector production employees.

The AGC said, “Too few future workers are exposed to construction as a possible career opportunity despite the fact the profession pays very well and typically does not require workers to have a college degree”.

It called for more investment in programmes that expose workers to construction as a career opportunity, amid an ongoing shortage of skilled workers.

US construction added 11,000 jobs in September, as unemployment rates for the sector remained at historically low levels. That has led contractors to raise pay faster than for other jobs, according to the AGC’s analysis of new government data.

Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist said, “Construction firms have plenty of projects but a dip in non-residential employment last month shows how hard it has been to find enough skilled workers.

“Job openings remain stubbornly high, even though the industry has been raising hourly pay at an elevated rate.”