Working hours are also getting longer as employers struggle to fill posts. The average working week for craft workers - production and non-supervisory employees - lengthened to 40.1 hours, the most since the series began in 1947, as firms are asking employees to work more overtime to make up for the difficulty in finding additional workers.
The addition of 48,000 jobs in December meant that the sector's unemployment rate fell to 8.3%, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America.
"Construction firms are clearly ramping up their hiring to keep up with swelling demand for construction," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. But many are having a hard time finding qualified workers to fill key positions.
Construction employment totalled 6,166,000 in December, the highest level since March 2009, with a 12-month gain of 290,000 jobs or 4.9%, Simonson said. Residential building and specialty trade contractors have added a combined 13,500 employees since November and 132,100 (6%) over 12 months. Non-residential contractors hired a net of 34,400 workers for the month and 158,200 (4.3%) since December 2013. The heavy and civil engineering construction segment, which includes pipelines, petrochemical and power plants, and public works construction, added 11,600 jobs in December and 57,900 (6.6%) over the year.
The number of workers who said they looked for work in the past month and had last worked in construction fell to 680,000 from 958,000 a year earlier. The latest total was lower than in any December since 2000.
Association urged Congress to act quickly to reform and increase funding for the Perkins Act, which funds most career and technical education programs in the country. "We need to make sure our education system is giving students an opportunity to qualify for the high paying opportunities that the construction industry is creating," said Stephen Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer.
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