WASHINGTON -- Increases in stimulus-funded projects and growing demand for single family construction helped boost monthly construction employment in 29 states between March and April, according to a new analysis of federal employment figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America.
Despite the recent gains, 46 states and the District of Columbia lost construction jobs over the past twelve months.
“A gradual turnaround appears to be taking hold after years of construction employment declines,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “As more stimulus projects get underway and single-family housing starts pick up, we are likely to see the number of states with year-over-year increases grow.”
Seasonally adjusted construction employment rose from March to April in 29 states, decreased in 18 and held steady in three, plus the District of Columbia, Simonson noted. He said that 17 of the states with monthly increases also added construction jobs from February to March.
Kansas experienced the highest monthly increase in construction employment (8.7%, 5,000 jobs), followed by North Dakota (6.5%, 1,300 jobs), Wyoming (6.0%, 1,300 jobs), Oklahoma (4.4%, 2,900 jobs) and Massachusetts (3.8%, 3,900 jobs).
On the flip side, Maine (7.7%, 1,800 jobs) experienced the highest monthly decline, followed by Vermont (5.7%, 700 jobs), Rhode Island (4.3%, 700 jobs), Hawaii (3.9%, 1,200 jobs) and South Carolina (3.1%, 2,500 jobs).
Read the Associated General Contractors of America's press release.
Despite the recent gains, 46 states and the District of Columbia lost construction jobs over the past twelve months.
“A gradual turnaround appears to be taking hold after years of construction employment declines,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “As more stimulus projects get underway and single-family housing starts pick up, we are likely to see the number of states with year-over-year increases grow.”
Seasonally adjusted construction employment rose from March to April in 29 states, decreased in 18 and held steady in three, plus the District of Columbia, Simonson noted. He said that 17 of the states with monthly increases also added construction jobs from February to March.
Kansas experienced the highest monthly increase in construction employment (8.7%, 5,000 jobs), followed by North Dakota (6.5%, 1,300 jobs), Wyoming (6.0%, 1,300 jobs), Oklahoma (4.4%, 2,900 jobs) and Massachusetts (3.8%, 3,900 jobs).
On the flip side, Maine (7.7%, 1,800 jobs) experienced the highest monthly decline, followed by Vermont (5.7%, 700 jobs), Rhode Island (4.3%, 700 jobs), Hawaii (3.9%, 1,200 jobs) and South Carolina (3.1%, 2,500 jobs).
Read the Associated General Contractors of America's press release.
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