Forty-two US states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between May 2017 and May 2018, while 28 states added construction jobs between April and May, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials warned that soaring construction costs, aggravated by new tariffs on steel and aluminum, could trigger project cancellations and job losses.
“It is heartening to see such widespread construction job gains,” said chief economist Ken Simonson. “However, unexpected, steep cost increases for many materials may force some contractors to lay off workers, while passing on price hikes will likely cause public agencies and private owners to delay or cancel projects.”
California added the most construction jobs (50,000 jobs, 6.2 percent) during the past year, while West Virginia added the highest percentage of new construction jobs during the past year (11.1 percent, 3,400 jobs).
Only six states shed construction jobs between May 2017 and May 2018, while construction employment was unchanged in Montana and Wyoming. New Jersey lost the most jobs (-4,600 jobs, -3.0 percent), while North Dakota (-1,800 jobs, -6.4 percent) had the largest percentage loss of construction jobs over the year.
Of the 28 states that added construction jobs between April and May, Ohio added the most (6,000 jobs, 2.7 percent), while North Dakota added the highest percentage of construction jobs for the month (8.5 percent, 2,100 jobs).
Sixteen states and DC lost construction jobs from April to May, while construction employment was unchanged in Delaware, Missouri, New Mexico, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The largest number construction job losses in May—2,900—occurred in California (-0.3 percent), while Wyoming lost the highest percentage of construction jobs for the month (-2.0 percent, -400 jobs).