econ "Construction Companies Increased, Employed Fewer in 1987"
(03/16/95)
                 EMBARGOED UNTIL:  MARCH 16, 1995  (THURSDAY)

Public Information Office                                        
CB95-56
301-457-2794
301-457-4067 (TDD)

Patricia Horning
301-457-4680

                AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES INCREASED, BUT

                  EMPLOYED FEWER WORKERS IN 1992 THAN IN 1987


      EMBARGOED UNTIL:  MARCH 16, 1995 (THURSDAY) - The nation's
construction industries employed 4,674,407 in 1992, a drop of 6.8
percent from 1987, according to the 1992 Census of Construction
Industries, Preliminary U.S. Summary (CC92-I-27(P)), released
today by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau.  

      While employment fell, the number of construction
establishments increased by 7 percent to 573,274 over this same
period.  Payroll expenses and value of construction work done
also increased by 7 percent to $118 billion and $529 billion,
respectively.

      The construction sector is divided into three major groups:
general construction (major group 15), heavy construction (major
group 16), and special trade contractors (major group 17). 
Within the major groups are 26 industries, at the four-digit
Standard Industrial Classification code level.          

      Of these 26 industries, only six showed employment
increases from 1987 to 1992:

      SIC 1796    Installation or Erection of Building Equipment, 
                  Not Elsewhere Classified (+19 percent)

      SIC 1799    Special Trade Contractors, Not Elsewhere 
                  Classified (+18 percent)

      SIC 1781    Water Well Drilling (+12 percent)               
          
      SIC 1752    Floor Laying and Other Floor Work, Not
                  Elsewhere Classified (+10 percent)

      SIC 1629    Heavy Construction, Not Elsewhere Classified 
                  (+2 percent)

      SIC 1521    General Contractors - Single Family Houses 
                  (+2 percent)

      Industries showing the greatest decrease in employment from
1987 were SIC 1522, General Contractors--Residential Other than
Single Family (-39 percent); and SIC 1531, Operative Builders (-
33 percent).
                                       
      Note:  All dollar values are in current dollars and have
not been adjusted for inflation.

      These data are from the 1992 Census of Construction
Industries, Preliminary Industry Series, United States Summary
(CC92-I-27(P)).  This report provides national totals for
industry groups (four-digit industry data can be obtained from
the separate industry reports).  This information helps 
government agencies and private interest groups assess the
performance of the economy and help private business monitor
their markets.  Copies of this report are available from the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,
P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-1954 (price $2.25, stock
number 803-036-00055-1).

      Final Industry Series Reports, scheduled for release
beginning in 1995, will provide additional tabulations of
industry data at the national and state level.  The Geographic
Area Series Reports, with additional data for metropolitan areas,
are scheduled for release in late 1995.

                                      -X-

Editor's Note:  EMBARGOED UNTIL:  MARCH 16, 1995 (THURSDAY) -
data from the reports also will be available on CD-ROM.  Media
representatives may obtain copies of this report from the
bureau's Public Information Office on 301-457-2794, fax:  301-
457-3670, or e-mail:  pio@census.gov.  Non-media orders should go
to the bureau's Customer Services Office on 301-763-INFO(4636).