The over $135 billion in construction and infrastructure investments included in stimulus legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama will create or save nearly two million jobs over the next two years, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Arlington, Va., concluded in its final analysis of the legislation.
The analysis, conducted by the association's chief economist, Ken Simonson, concluded that the infrastructure and construction funding would create or save 650,000 construction jobs and 300,000 positions in related fields such as equipment and material supply. An additional 970,000 jobs in the broader economy would also be created or supported by the investments. Simonson said the new analysis is based on research on the economic benefits of infrastructure investments conducted by the association in cooperation with Professor Stephen Fuller of George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
"When you get beyond the politics and the policy, the fact remains these investments will put people to work, save businesses, and help rebuild aging infrastructure," says Stephen Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America.