Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between April 2017 and April 2018, while 29 states added construction jobs between March and April, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials said the employment growth likely would have been higher if firms could find more qualified workers to hire.
"Firms in many parts of the country are working to keep pace with growing demand for construction services," said chief economist Ken Simonson. "Many of those firms are having a hard time finding and hiring enough qualified workers as the pool of available workers remains very tight."
California added the most construction jobs (59,500 jobs, 7.4%) during the past year. Other states adding a large number of new construction jobs for the past 12 months include Texas (40,600 jobs, 5.7%); Florida (34,900 jobs, 7.0%); Georgia (13,900 jobs, 7.6%) and Arizona (11,700 jobs, 8.2%). West Virginia (11.6%, 3,500 jobs) added the highest percentage of new construction jobs during the past year, followed by Nevada (9.8 percent, 8,200 jobs); Arizona; Utah (8.1%, 7,700 jobs) and Idaho (7.9%, 3,500 jobs).
Eleven states shed construction jobs between April 2017 and April 2018 while construction employment was unchanged in Montana. North Dakota lost the highest total and percentage of construction jobs (-4,900 jobs, -17.0%), followed by Iowa (-2,500 jobs, -3.2%); Missouri (-1,500 jobs, -1.2%); South Carolina (-1,400 jobs, -1.4%) and Nebraska (-1,100 jobs, -2.1%). In addition to North Dakota, other states that lost a high percentage of construction jobs for the month included South Dakota (-3.3%, -800 jobs); Iowa; Nebraska and Hawaii (-1.9%, -700 jobs).
Twenty-nine states added construction jobs between March and April. California added the most (10,000 jobs, 1.2%), followed by Texas (4,100 jobs, 0.6%); Louisiana (2,200 jobs, 1.5%); Georgia (2,100 jobs, 1.1%) and Washington (2,100 jobs, 1.0%). Louisiana added the highest percentage of construction jobs for the month, followed by Kentucky (1.4%, 1,100 jobs); New Hampshire (1.4%, 400 jobs); Alaska (1.3%, 200 jobs) and Vermont (1.3%, 200 jobs). Employment set an all-time high in Texas.
Nineteen states lost construction jobs from March to April, while construction employment was unchanged in Mississippi, Montana and the District of Columbia. Indiana lost the most construction jobs for the month (-2,300 jobs, -1.6%), followed by Wisconsin (-2,000 jobs, -1.6%); South Carolina (-1,300 jobs, -1.3%); Massachusetts (-1,300 jobs, -0.8%) and Michigan (-1,100 jobs, -0.6%). North Dakota lost the highest percentage of construction jobs (-2.8%, -700 jobs), followed by Delaware (-1.7%, -400 jobs); Wisconsin; Indiana; South Carolina and South Dakota (-1.3%, -300 jobs).
Association officials said strong demand, particularly from the private-sector, was prompting firms in most states to add staff. But they cautioned that relatively few young workers appear to be entering the construction industry. They said the strong economy was increasing competition for most workers and construction recruiting is hampered by the fact relatively few schools offer instruction in construction skills or counsel students to consider high-paying construction careers.
"The collective cultural fixation on urging every student to go to college and seek office jobs means relatively few young adults are ever encouraged to consider careers in construction," said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer. View the state employment data by rank, state, and peak. View the state employment map.
Related Stories
Market Data | Aug 10, 2020
5 must reads for the AEC industry today: August 10, 2020
Private student housing owners reap the benefits as campus housing de-densifies and race for COVID vaccine boosts real estate in life sciences hubs.
Market Data | Aug 7, 2020
6 must reads for the AEC industry today: August 7, 2020
BD+C's 2020 Color Trends Report and HMC releases COVID-19 Campus Reboot Guide for Prek-12 schools.
Market Data | Aug 6, 2020
6 must reads for the AEC industry today: August 6, 2020
Oklahoma State's new North Academic Building and can smart buildings outsmart coronavirus?
Market Data | Aug 5, 2020
6 must reads for the AEC industry today: August 5, 2020
San Jose's new tallest tower and Virginia is the first state to adopt COVID-19 worker safety rules.
Market Data | Aug 4, 2020
7 must reads for the AEC industry today: August 4, 2020
Construction spending decreases for fourth consecutive month and 100% affordable housing development breaks ground in Mountain View.
Market Data | Aug 3, 2020
Construction spending decreases for fourth consecutive month in June
Association officials warn further contraction is likely unless federal government enacts prompt, major investment in infrastructure as state and local governments face deficits.
Market Data | Aug 3, 2020
6 must reads for the AEC industry today: August 3, 2020
The future is a number game for retail and restaurants and 5 reasons universities are renovating student housing.
Market Data | Jul 31, 2020
5 must reads for the AEC industry today: July 31, 2020
Vegas's newest resort and casino is packed with contactless technology and Mariott, Hilton, and IHG dominate the U.S. hotel construction pipeline.
Market Data | Jul 30, 2020
Marriott, Hilton, and IHG continue to dominate the U.S. hotel construction pipeline at Q2’20 close
Hilton’s Home2 Suites and IHG’s Holiday Inn Express continue to be the most prominent brands in the U.S. pipeline.
Market Data | Jul 30, 2020
7 must reads for the AEC industry today: July 30, 2020
Millennium Tower finally has a fix and construction costs decrease for the first time in 10 years.