In an industry that’s grown accustomed to layoffs in recent years, David Weekley Homes has made its way to brighter days. The company hired 188 new employees during the first half of this year, a 109% increase from the same period in 2011.
The hiring boom comes thanks to a 45% increase in sales in 2012 compared to last year, says John Johnson, the company’s CEO, who reports that the growth spans all of David Weekley’s markets.
"We have added employees in all functions throughout the company—sales, construction, administrative support, and management," Johnson told Builder in an email. More than 50% of the positions were newly created and many of the hires were past employees.
"We are thrilled to be adding American jobs as we enjoy national growth, especially after the difficult times our industry has experienced during the recession," Johnson said. "Home building is rebounding." Whether Weekley continues to hire at this pace, however, will hinge on the sales climate. "We will continue to react to the improving market conditions," Johnson said, "but are cautious regarding adding overhead until we achieve targeted sales results."
Claire Easley is a senior editor at Builder.
