advanced search

Construction Employment Rises in Only 19 States and Washington, D.C., in November

Dec 20, 2011 2:38 PM

Construction employment rose in only 19 states and Washington, D.C., in November, a weaker showing than in recent months, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. In contrast, 25 states plus Washington, D.C., added jobs on a year-over-year basis, while 24 states shed construction jobs.

"Although there have been selective improvements in private nonresidential employment, multifamily construction and even home building in a few states, public construction employment declines are negating these gains in much of the country,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "The map of gains and losses is likely to remain very checkered for several more months."

Seasonally adjusted construction employment climbed from October to November in only 19 states plus D.C., in contrast to recent months that showed a nearly even split between states with gains and those with losses. Rhode Island had the largest one-month percentage gain (5.8%, 900 jobs), while New York added the largest number of construction jobs for the month (4,600 jobs, 1.8%). Nevada was second in both categories (5.3%, 2,900 jobs). Florida tied for second place in construction jobs added in November (2,900 jobs, 0.9%).

Of the 30 states that lost construction jobs from October to November, Arizona had the largest one-month percentage drop (-4.3%, -5,000 jobs), with Utah next (-4.2%, -2,800 jobs), followed by Kentucky (-3.9%, -2,500 jobs) and Vermont (-3.7%, -500 jobs). California lost the largest number of construction jobs for the month (-7,100 jobs, -1.2%), followed by Arizona, then Ohio (-4,000 jobs, -2.3%). Maine had no change in monthly construction employment.

North Dakota ranked first among 25 states and the District of Columbia that recorded construction employment gains from November 2010 to November 2011. The state added 18% (3,800 jobs). Indiana ranked second (8.1%, 9,300 jobs), followed by Rhode Island (6.5%, 1,000 jobs) and Oklahoma (6.0%, 4,100 jobs). Texas added the largest number of jobs (10,600, 1.8%), closely followed by California (10,400, 1.9%).

Among the 24 states that lost construction jobs over the past 12 months, New Mexico experienced the steepest decline (-13%, -5,900 jobs), followed by Wisconsin (-9.5%, -8,800 jobs), Kentucky (-8.9%, -6,100 jobs) and Georgia, which shed the largest number of jobs over the year (-11,500 jobs, -8.0%). Wisconsin had the second-highest number of job losses; Alabama was third-worst (-6,600, -7.7%). Nevada had no change in construction employment over the year.

Association officials said the failure of Congress to enact long-term transportation and infrastructure funding bills was holding back hiring by public-works contractors. They noted that airport projects had already been halted once and that funding for highways and transit was guaranteed only through March.

“When federal funds are assured for only a few months at a time, states and contractors are unable to start long-term projects, and employment in a state can drop as soon as a major project ends,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “Construction firms—and the many businesses that depend on them—will continue to suffer until Congress does its part.”

View the state employment data by rank and by state.

Want to use this article? Click here for options!

© 2012 Penton Business Media, Inc.

---

Acceptable Use Policy blog comments powered by Disqus

Browse Back Issues Select an Issue EC&M Magazine | April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 1, 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 1, 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 1, 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 1, 2006 May 1, 2006 April 2006 March 1, 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 1, 2004 January 1, 2004 December 1, 2003 November 1, 2003 October 1, 2003 September 1, 2003 August 1, 2003 July 1, 2003 June 1, 2003 May 1, 2003 April 1, 2003 March 1, 2003 February 1, 2003 January 1, 2003 December 1, 2002 November 1, 2002 October 1, 2002 September 1, 2002 August 1, 2002 July 1, 2002 June 1, 2002 May 1, 2002 April 1, 2002 March 1, 2002 February 1, 2002 January 1, 2002 December 1, 2001 November 1, 2001 October 1, 2001 September 1, 2001 August 1, 2001 July 1, 2001 June 1, 2001 May 1, 2001 April 1, 2001 March 1, 2001 February 1, 2001 February 1, 1995 January 1, 2001 December 1, 2000 November 1, 2000 October 1, 2000 September 1, 2000 August 1, 2000 July 1, 2000 June 1, 2000 May 1, 2000 April 1, 2000 March 1, 2000 February 1, 2000 January 1, 2000 December 1, 1999 November 1, 1999 October 1, 1999 September 1, 1999 August 1, 1999 July 1, 1999 June 1, 1999 May 1, 1999 April 1, 1999 March 1, 1999 February 1, 1999 January 1, 1999 December 1, 1998 November 1, 1998 October 1, 1998 September 1, 1998 August 1, 1998 July 1, 1998 June 1, 1998 May 1, 1998 April 1, 1998 March 1, 1998 February 1, 1998 January 1, 1998 December 1, 1997 November 1, 1997 December 1, 1996 November 1, 1996 October 1, 1996 September 1, 1996 August 1, 1996 July 1, 1996 June 1, 1996 May 1, 1996 April 1, 1996 March 1, 1996 February 1, 1996 January 1, 1996 December 1, 1995 November 30, 1995 November 1, 1995 October 1, 1995 September 1, 1995 August 1, 1995 July 1, 1995 June 1, 1995 May 1, 1995 April 1, 1995 March 1, 1995

browse e-newsletters