Construction employment declined in 25 states between April 2010
and May 2010, and in 45 states between May 2009 and 2010, according to a new
analysis of federal data recently released by the Associated General
Contractors of America.
Construction employment will remain weak despite the short-term stimulus while
private, state and local demand for construction remains depressed, association
officials note.
“Construction workers will continue losing jobs until demand
for new housing, office, retail and local public construction improves,” says
Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Although the stimulus is
helping, it is very likely that construction employment has yet to hit bottom
in most states.”
Seasonally adjusted construction employment declined in 25
states, improved in 22 and the District
of Columbia, and was unchanged in three states,
Simonson notes. He explains that New York lost
the most jobs during the past month (9,800 jobs, 3.1 percent), while Wyoming lost the highest
percentage (6.5 percent, 1,500 jobs). Other states experiencing large monthly
construction employment declines include South Dakota
(3.8 percent, 800 jobs); Michigan (3.4
percent, 4,200 jobs); and Wisconsin
(3.4 percent, 3,500 jobs).
The economist says that Louisiana
added the most jobs during the past month (2,400 jobs, 2 percent), while Hawaii added the highest
percentage (4.1 percent, 1,200 jobs). States with other big gains include Maine (3.7 percent, 800 jobs); D.C. (3.7 percent, 400
jobs); and West Virginia
(2.7 percent, 900 jobs.)
California lost more
construction jobs during the past 12 months than any other state (80,900 jobs,
12.8 percent), while Nevada
lost the highest percentage (23 percent, 18,900 jobs). Other states
experiencing high percentage drops include Washington
(15.6 percent, 25,400 jobs); Missouri (15.0
percent, 18,000 jobs); and Vermont
(14.7 percent, 2,000 jobs.)
Simonson notes that Kansas
added the most construction jobs between May 2009 and May 2010 (3,600 jobs, 6.2
percent). The other four states to add construction jobs over the past year
were North Dakota (5.4 percent, 1,100 jobs); Arkansas (3 percent, 1,500 jobs); Alaska
(2.5 percent, 400 jobs); and New
Hampshire (1.3 percent, 300 jobs).
Association officials predict that private, state and local
construction employment demand is unlikely to improve until next year at the
earliest, given current vacancy rates and public finances.
