Thirty-nine US states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between May 2018 and May 2019, while construction employment increased in 31 states and DC from April to May, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today.
Texas added the most construction jobs over the year (35,200 jobs, 4.8 percent), while West Virginia added the highest percentage of construction jobs over 12 months (26.5 percent, 9,900 jobs).
Ten states shed construction jobs over the latest 12 months, while employment was unchanged in Iowa. Louisiana lost the largest number and percentage of construction jobs (-9,100 jobs, -6.0 percent).
California added the most construction jobs between April and May (12,800 jobs, 1.5 percent), while North Dakota added the highest percentage of construction jobs for the month (6.3 percent, 1,700 jobs).
Construction employment decreased from April to May in 17 states and was unchanged in Alaska and Idaho. New York lost the most construction jobs for the month (-5,500 jobs, -1.3 percent), while West Virginia had the steepest percentage loss of construction jobs between April and May (-2.7 percent, -1,300 jobs).