A new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that unemployment rates in construction dropped in 49 states during the month of April. According to the report, the number of construction jobs rose by 45,000 as year-to-date construction jobs are up 108,000.
Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Utah were the five states with the lowest construction unemployment rate, four of which also reported the lowest unemployment rates in April. The construction unemployment rate in Wyoming for April was 1.3 percent, followed by South Dakota (1.9 percent), Nebraska (2.3 percent), North Dakota (3 percent), and Utah (3.2 percent).
West Virginia, Georgia, California, Rhode Island, and Connecticut were the five states with the highest construction unemployment rates in April. West Virginia's unemployment rate for construction was 11.1 percent. Georgia (10.8 percent), California (10.6 percent), Rhode Island (10.5 percent), and Connecticut (10.3 percent) followed.
An improving economy and better weather were attributed to the decrease in unemployment rates among construction workers in April, Associated Builders and Contractors reported. The sectors that saw the greatest increase in construction spending included manufacturing, lodging, office, commercial, and multi-family.
Related Stories
| Aug 11, 2010
High-profit design firms invest in in-house training
Forty-three percent of high-profit architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms have in-house training staff, according to a study by ZweigWhite. The 2008-2009 Successful Firm Survey reports that only 36% of firms overall have in-house training staff. In addition, 52% of high-profit firms use an online training system or service.
| Aug 11, 2010
Construction cost trend remains negative despite August increases, according to AGC
Despite increases in construction costs in August, new figures released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that prices for the sector remain significantly down from a year ago, the chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America said today in analyzing the data.
| Aug 11, 2010
Help Wanted: Architect for $100 million 'Discovery Park' in Union City, Tennessee
The Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation is identifying architects interested in designing a 50-acre, multi-million dollar complex in Union City, TN. Discovery Park of America will be a world-class, multi-faceted venue presenting exhibits and interactive experiences about history, nature, art, and science.
| Aug 11, 2010
Clark Group, Hensel Phelps among nation's largest federal government contractors, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 40 Federal Government Contractors based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Schmidt Associates and Johnson Melloh form new company, Energy Solutions by JMS
Schmidt Associates, a full-service architecture and engineering firm based in Indianapolis (and a 2008 BD+C Best Firms to Work For winner), and Johnson Melloh, a mechanical contractor, have formed a new company called Energy Solutions by JMS. The two will share resources through the new company to design and construct energy-efficient systems.
| Aug 11, 2010
Report: Fraud levels fall for construction industry, but companies still losing $6.4 million on average
The global construction, engineering and infrastructure industry saw a significant decline in fraud activity with companies losing an average of $6.4 million over the last three years, according to the latest edition of the Kroll Annual Global Fraud Report, released today at the Association of Corporate Counsel’s 2009 Annual Meeting in Boston. This new figure represents less than half of last year’s amount of $14.2 million.
| Aug 11, 2010
Davis Langdon, DEGW merge
Leading global construction consultancy Davis Langdon and strategic planning consultants DEGW have announced a merger