The AIA's report [PDF] on the potential for $2 billion in lost work if massive mandatory federal spending cuts go into effect on January 2 will be unwelcome news for the struggling design and construction industry, among the hardest hit by the recession.
"At a time when both political parties are campaigning on being the best at creating jobs, both are risking the jobs of millions of Americans by placing ideology above governing," said AIA President Jeff Potter, FAIA.
According to an AIA press release accompanying the report, "as many as 66,500 full-time positions could be lost in a sector that accounts for roughly 11 percent of the nation's economy."
"The design and construction industry is a significant portion of the national economy, and we urge both sides to put aside their political differences and come up with a budget that keeps people working, especially if they are working on a national infrastructure befitting of the 21st century," Potter said.
