Contractors doubled layoffs in December to 53,000, but most of the increase was probably weather related and will be revised away or reversed quickly. Note that layoffs by heavy general contractors, who are weathering the recession better than building contractors, were unusually large. Layoffs will continue at least through the winter at about a 10,000-25,000 a month pace. Modest residential hiring will not offset continuing layoffs in nonresidential building and possibly small layoffs in heavy construction.
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