Thirty-nine US states added construction jobs between March 2016 and March 2017 while 17 states added construction jobs between February and March, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data.
Association officials noted that contractors in most states remain busy for now but worry about not being able to find enough workers to complete projects in the future.
“Construction job gains were much less widespread in March after unseasonably mild weather boosted hiring in more states than usual in February,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association. “Only Massachusetts and Texas set new records for construction employment in March, following a month in which construction employment reached all-time highs in five states.”
California added the most construction jobs (42,200 jobs, 5.5 percent) during the past year, while Oregon added the highest percentage of new construction jobs during the past year (9.2 percent, 8,200 jobs).
Ten states and the District of Columbia shed construction jobs between March 2016 and March 2017. Employment was unchanged in West Virginia. Illinois lost the highest number of construction jobs (-4,900 jobs, -2.2 percent), while Mississippi lost the highest percentage for the year (-4,800 jobs, -10.4 percent).
Ten states and the District of Columbia shed construction jobs between March 2016 and March 2017. Employment was unchanged in West Virginia. Illinois lost the highest number of construction jobs (-4,900 jobs, -2.2 percent), while Mississippi lost the highest percentage for the year (-4,800 jobs, -10.4 percent).
California added the most construction jobs between February and March (18,900 jobs, 2.4 percent), while New Mexico added the highest percentage of construction jobs during the past month (3.4 percent, 1,500 jobs).
Construction employment declined in 30 states and D.C. during the past month and was unchanged in Montana, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Illinois shed more construction jobs than any other state (-7,100 jobs, -3.2 percent), while Alaska lost the highest percentage of construction jobs between February and March (-4.9 percent, -800 jobs).
Construction employment declined in 30 states and D.C. during the past month and was unchanged in Montana, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Illinois shed more construction jobs than any other state (-7,100 jobs, -3.2 percent), while Alaska lost the highest percentage of construction jobs between February and March (-4.9 percent, -800 jobs).
Association officials said that more contractors are quoting longer completion times or passing up opportunities to bid on new projects as ways of coping with shortages of available qualified workers. The association urged federal, state and local officials to act promptly on measures outlined in the association’s Workforce Development plan to open up more career and technical education opportunities, especially for high school students.