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 | May 25, 2018
Construction group uses mobile technology to make highway work zones safer
Mobile advertising campaign urges drivers who routinely pass through certain work zones to slow down and be alert as new data shows motorists are more likely to be injured than construction workers.
Market Data | May 23, 2018
Architecture firm billings strengthen in April
Firms report solid growth for seven straight months.
Market Data | May 22, 2018
Vacancies stable, rents rising, and pipeline receding, according to Transwestern’s 1Q US Office Market report
The Big Apple still leads the new construction charge.
High-rise Construction | May 18, 2018
The 100 tallest buildings ever conventionally demolished
The list comes from a recent CTBUH study.
Resiliency | May 17, 2018
Architects brief lawmakers and policy-makers on disaster recovery as hurricane season approaches
Urge senate passage of disaster recovery reform act; Relationship-building with local communities.
Market Data | May 17, 2018
These 25 cities have the highest urban infill development potential
The results stem from a COMMERCIALCafé study.
Market Data | May 10, 2018
Construction costs surge in April as new tariffs and other trade measures lead to significant increases in materials prices
Association officials warn that the new tariffs and resulting price spikes have the potential to undermine benefits of tax and regulatory reform, urge administration to reconsider.
Market Data | May 7, 2018
Construction employers add 17,000 jobs in April and 257,000 for the year
Unemployment rate for construction increases slightly compared to year earlier as higher pay levels appears to be attracting people with recent construction experience back into the workforce.
Market Data | May 2, 2018
Construction employment increases in 245 metro areas between March 2017 & 2018, as trade fights & infrastructure funding shortfalls loom
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas and Weirton-Steubenville, W.Va.-Ohio experience largest year-over-year gains; Baton Rouge, La. and Auburn-Opelika, Ala. have biggest annual declines.
Market Data | May 2, 2018
Nonresidential Construction down in March, private sector falters, public sector unchanged
February’s spending estimate was revised roughly $10 billion higher.
