Ohio residents may have noticed they've been seeing more construction projects throughout the state in recent months, as business is picking up for the industry. The Community Press and Recorder reports there has been a boost in construction employment, with the addition of 1,900 jobs across the state, according to a report by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA). This growth makes Ohio the 17th-best state in terms of new construction jobs, which isn't bad considering 31 states saw employment decline in this industry.
The news source reports that many construction projects have been taking place in Cincinnati, and locals may have noticed cranes, excavators and other construction equipment around the Horseshoe Casino and Mercer Commons as well as in other downtown and Over-the-Rhine areas. Messer Construction has been hard at work on these projects.
"Cincinnati has a lot going on with revitalization downtown, and it is really helping our industry," Brian Mooney, the general manager for the Cincinnati branch of Turner Construction, told the news source.
Last year, Turner focused its efforts on the Great American Tower at Queen City Square, and the company has also been working on projects at hospitals and schools in the Cincinnati area. Green Township residents have likely seen backhoes, dump trucks and construction workers along Interstate 74. The Business Courier reports Turner completed the structure for a new hospital, Mercy Hospital West. The $180 million building will feature a 2.5-acre green roof and enough space inside to care for up to 250 patients in a 638,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility.
While the Cincinnati area is experiencing improvements in the construction industry, not all of Ohio is as successful at the moment. The Dayton Business Journal reports that the construction, mining and logging industries in Dayton have lost a combined total of 800 jobs since last July.
"Construction employment is healthy in the handful of areas where private sector demand is on the rebound," Ken Simonson, the chief economist for the AGCA, told the Business Journal. "However, construction employment in most metro areas is suffering from the effects of tepid private sector demand and shrinking public sector construction budgets."
Companies in Dayton and other areas experiencing declines can consider putting equipment that is not currently being used for projects up for bid in online auctions. This will provide additional funds to put into current projects and can help keep bids low for new ones.
