By Phil Riske, managing editor, Rose Law Group Reporter
Many firms plan to start hiring again and most contractors predict demand will either grow or remain stable in virtually every market segment this year according to survey results released today by the Associated General Contractors of America.
Meanwhile, Arizona contractors responding to the survey, say next year would be the year of greatest growth.
Forty-six percent of Arizona respondents said home building would remain at the same rate this year as late, but utilities and public buildings construction would increase substantially this year.
Most contractors in Arizona expressed finding skilled workers is still and will continue to be a problem.
The survey provides a generally upbeat outlook for the year even as firms worry about growing worker shortages, rising costs and the impact of new regulations and federal budget cutting.
“Contractors are more optimistic about 2014 than they have been in a long time,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “While the industry has a long way to go before it returns to the employment and activity levels it experienced in the middle of the last decade, conditions are heading in the right direction.”
