According to the Associated General Contractors of America, Hawaii lost approximately 3 percent of its construction jobs in 2011. President of the Hawaii Chapter of the AGCA, John Romanowski, stated, “What makes these job losses even more frustrating is the fact that many of them could have been avoided. Thousands more construction workers would be employed today if Congress wasn’t years late in passing the highway and transit bill.” The Associated General Contractors of America is asking the United States Congress to pass more transporation-related funding projects.
According to John Romanowski, approximately 600 construction jobs were lost between January 2011 and January 2012. Romanowski noted that since 2008, Hawaii has lost approximately 6,300 construction jobs, which equals about 25 percent of its total.
State of Hawaii Department of Transportation spokesman, Dan Meisenzahl, noted that 80 percent of large-scale transportation projects in Hawaii are paid for by federal funds. Meisenzahl stated, “Federal dollars are critical to Hawaii. We’re a small state, but we have so many challenges as far as our roadways. The federal money is our lifeline.”
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 3-15-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
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