ARTBA analysis shows decline in transportation construction employment

The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) “Transportation Construction Industry Employment” report shows a 3.6 percent drop in highway and bridge construction employment from April 2007 to April 2008. The employment data indicated highway and bridge contractors employed 325,200 workers in April of 2007; this number is down 7,100 to 318,100 in April of 2008.

The ARTBA analysis also noted some positive developments in the same period within the industry. Employment in the construction machinery segment grew 5.6 percent, and the average April hourly wage of workers in the transportation construction segment continues to surpass non-transportation construction jobs. The hourly wage for transportation construction workers rose from $20.42 in April of 2007 to $21.64 in April of 2008 helping the average weekly earnings of transportation construction workers to rise seven percent from $833.14 to $891.57.