Housing Still On Hiring Binge

Atlanta-based Lucas Group, one of the nation's largest executive search firms, reports the construction industry is still on a hiring spree - despite reports that industry hiring has slowed.

In July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the construction industry had hit a plateau, but Lucas associate partner Stacey Rouse says the search firm has not seen any reduction in hiring within the management sector, including both home builders and commercial construction firms. "Right now, the job market for construction is the best I've seen it in over six years." According to Rouse, executive-level positions that are especially in demand include vice president of land acquisition and development, project managers, purchasing managers, operations managers and architects.

The search firm reported in April a steady growth of employment in construction, with a 58 percent increase in the number of hires made during the early months of 2004, compared to last year.