AGC: Vaccine Mandate Withdrawn, But Labor Shortage Persists

Construction employment in December remained below pre-pandemic levels in more than half of U.S. states as firms struggle to find enough workers to hire, reports the Associated General Contractors of America in its latest analysis of government data. AGC hopes that this week’s decision by the Biden administration to withdraw its emergency vaccine mandate will ease the sector’s labor challenges, as firms avoid losing workers unwilling to comply with COVID shots.

AGC was among the many organizations that had filed suit against the mandate, which was blocked by the Supreme Court earlier this month on the grounds that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had exceeded its authority to regulate public health. The administration continues to urge businesses to voluntarily implement vaccine and testing requirements for their workers to stem the spread of the Omicron virus.