Digging into Construction Data

Construction is a large, diverse, and–lately–fast-growing sector of the U.S. economy, comprising several distinct categories of activity. Construction accounts for roughly five percent of non-farm payroll employment and 12 percent of selfemployment. The value of construction put in place totals eight percent of GDP; construction supplies and equipment are important components of manufacturing output. The current outlook for the industry is for a pause in the fast-growing residential market, but we can expect an acceleration in private and public nonresidential construction. Data on different aspects of construction are available from a variety of federal and private sources. There are limitations and pitfalls that data users should bear in mind.Business Economics (2005) 40, 64–69; doi:10.2145/20050207