Thirty-nine US states added construction jobs between April 2016 and April 2017 amid growing demand for construction services, yet more than half the states lost construction jobs between March and April amid tight labor market conditions, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data.
“Demand for construction remains robust, so it is likely that a number of the monthly employment declines are being caused by a lack of workers instead of a lack of work,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association. “If the labor market remains tight, firms may have to adjust their business practices as they shift limited personnel from one project to the next.”
California added the most construction jobs (38,000 jobs, 4.9 percent) during the past year. Nevada added the highest percentage of new construction jobs during the past year (9,700 jobs, 13.0 percent).
Nine states and the District of Columbia shed construction jobs between April 2016 and April 2017 while construction employment was unchanged in North Carolina and West Virginia. Illinois lost the highest number of construction jobs (-6,600 jobs, -3.0 percent), while Mississippi lost the highest percentage for the year (-3,600 jobs, -8.1 percent).
Among the 27 states that shed construction jobs between March and April, Texas lost more than any other state (-10,300 jobs, -1.4 percent), while Montana (-3.8 percent, -1,100 jobs) lost the highest percentage of construction jobs for the month.
Twenty-one states added construction jobs between March and April while construction employment was unchanged in two states and the District of Columbia. California (7,200 jobs, 0.9 percent) added the most construction jobs for the month. Connecticut (4.7 percent, 2,800 jobs) added the highest percentage of construction jobs during the past month.