Philly region 3rd in the U.S. in generating construction jobs

Philadelphia saw some of the fastest growth in construction jobs in the country between July of 2013 and July of this year.

 A representative of the Associated General Contractors of America, Brian Turmail, visited the city Wednesday to announce his organization lists Philadelphia third among U.S. metro regions in generating construction jobs.

“There are more people working in construction in the Philadelphia division,” he noted, “than at any point since July of 2008. So that’s a good direction to be heading.”

Currently, 76,700 workers are employed in construction in the region, an increase of 8,500 jobs — or approximately 12 percent — over last year.

The highest percentage increase in jobs in Pennsylvania’s metropolitan areas was in Scranton-Wilkes Barre, at 13 percent (1,400 jobs).  The Pittsburgh and Harrisburg metropolitan regions each saw  five  percent gains in construction jobs. 

Housing construction has driven the post-recession recovery, and the officials gathered at the luxury development AQ Rittenhouse, due to open early next year, to announce te regions surging construction numbers.

“It’s really great when you have to do a little talk over the din of construction,” said Alan Greenberger, Philadelphia’s deputy mayor for economic development. He said the level of construction currently under way in Philadelphia is more than he can remember at any time during his 40 years in the city.