Average US construction earnings hit $37.64

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That’s according to the latest analysis of government data by Associated General Contractors (AGC).

Hourly earnings for construction employees – including most onsite craft workers and many office staff – climbed 4% year on year and exceeded the 3.8% increase for workers in the private sector as a whole.

Meanwhile, construction employment increased by 19,000 positions in September, as firms raised wages to bring workers on board more rapidly than other sectors.

Construction employment in September in the US was 8.3 million according to seasonally adjusted figures.

“The employment data are consistent with the August spending numbers that show rising demand for public construction, including a large heavy-civil component,” said Macrina Wilkins, the association’s senior research analyst. “Those public-sector gains are being partly offset, however, by declining private sector demand for many types of construction projects.”

Nonetheless, the fact that firms continued to add construction jobs during a period of uncertainty around a government shutdown and outstanding questions about future tariff rates showed contractors are optimistic about demand for their services, according to the AGC.

“Despite some significant economic uncertainties, construction firms remain optimistic enough to continue adding to their payrolls,” said Jeffrey D. Shoaf, the association’s chief executive officer. “The best way to sustain that momentum is by providing clarity about tariff levels, stabilising materials prices and developing a more robust workforce.”