Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Construction employment expected to hit Nebraska record

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new economic forecast says construction employment is expected to be the fastest-growing sector of Nebraska's economy through 2018.

The Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln said in a report released Monday that construction employment will reach a state record this year and continue growing through 2018. The bureau report says that 2018, more than 55,000 people will be working in construction in Nebraska. That's an increase of 9.5 percent from its pre-Great Recession peak of 50,500 in 2007.

The boost is fueled in part by an infusion of tax dollars for roads.

Moderate growth is seen for Nebraska's economy as a whole.

Agriculture and machinery manufacturing are expected to be the weak spots. Lower crop and livestock prices have placed pressure on the state's machinery manufacturers.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed