The sound of a steady paycheck is music to Roy Elder's ears.
A burst of hiring in February added 236,000 U.S. jobs and reduced the unemployment rate to 7.7 percent from 7.9 percent in January. The strong job growth showed that employers are confident about the economy despite higher taxes and government spending cuts.
“It's been tough over the last couple of years,” said Elder.
Not long ago Elder, a construction worker, was forced to put down his tools because the jobs just weren't there.
Now Elder's been hired to help build a home.
According to the U.S. Labor Department there's more work where that came from.
In February 48,000 jobs were created from the construction industry.
Max Maraj is the President of Alexander Incorporated Construction of Tampa Bay.
“We are super busy right now,” said Maraj.
He's the one who hired Elder and he's already searching for more help.
“Right now when we try to get employees, we can't get them anymore, we put an ad out there and instead of 20 calls we get five calls,” said Maraj.
The Ybor City construction company just signed a deal today to build new homes in an empty lot in Ybor.
“As the economy improves, put more people to work, construction opens up, it just snowballs,” said Developer Steve Yturriaga.
It's a development that had been on hold because of the sour economy.
“It is picking up. There are jobs available. It's starting to be, I should say,” said Elder. “I say, slowly, but surely I think they’re getting better.”