Forty states added construction jobs between November 2016 and November 2017, while 39 states added construction jobs between October and November, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials noted that firms in most states are adding jobs amid expectations that demand will continue to grow thanks to new tax cuts and regulatory reforms.
"There were robust construction gains in most parts of the country as the economy continues to expand," said Stephen E. Sandherr, Chief Executive Officer for the association. "Demand should continue to grow as newly enacted tax cuts and regulatory reforms stimulate even more widespread economic growth."
California added the most construction jobs (48,400 jobs, 6.2%) during the past year. Other states adding a high number of new construction jobs for the past 12 months include Florida (41,800 jobs, 8.7%); Texas (23,900 jobs, 3.4 percent); New York (12,600 jobs, 3.4 percent) and Pennsylvania (12,000 jobs, 4.6 percent). Nevada (13.8 percent, 10,900 jobs) added the highest percentage of new construction jobs during the past year, followed by Rhode Island (13 percent, 2,400 jobs); New Hampshire (10 percent, 2,600 jobs); Oregon (9.7 percent, 9,100 jobs) and Florida.
Ten states shed construction jobs between November 2016 and November 2017 while construction employment was unchanged in the District of Columbia. Missouri lost the highest number of construction jobs (-6,500 jobs, -5.3%), followed by Iowa (-6,100 jobs, -7.5%); North Carolina (-3,100 jobs, -1.5%) and North Dakota (-1,600 jobs, -4.8%). Iowa lost the highest percentage for the year, followed by Missouri; North Dakota; Montana (-3.5%, 1,000 jobs) and South Dakota (-1.7%, -400 jobs).
Among the 39 states that added construction jobs between October and November, Texas added more than any other state (8,200 jobs, 1.1%), followed by Florida (6,200 jobs, 1.2%); New York (5,300 jobs, 1.4%); Indiana (4,900 jobs, 3.6%) and Pennsylvania (3,400 jobs, 1.4%). Alaska added the highest percentage of construction jobs for the month (4.5%, 700 jobs), followed by Indiana; Nebraska (2.6%, 1,300 jobs); Rhode Island (2.5%, 500 jobs) and West Virginia (2.5%, 800 jobs).
Eleven states lost construction jobs between October and November, while construction employment was unchanged in D.C. Maryland lost the most construction jobs for the month (-1,900 jobs, -1.1%), followed by Oklahoma (-1,400 jobs, -1.7%) and Connecticut (-1,300 jobs, -2.2%). Vermont (-3.2%, -500 jobs) lost the highest percentage of construction jobs, followed by Wyoming (-2.9%, -600 jobs) and Montana (-2.2%, -600 jobs).
Association officials noted that many construction firms have high expectations for the coming year. They said that as they prepare an annual construction industry outlook the association and Sage Construction and Real Estate will release on January 3rd, it is clear many firms expect the administration's efforts to reduce needless regulatory burdens and newly enacted tax cuts will further improve market conditions.
"This is one of the best business climates many firms have experienced in over a decade," Sandherr said. "While Washington needs to address infrastructure funding, workforce shortages and multi-employer retirement reforms, 2018 looks to be a strong year for the industry."
View the state employment data by rank and state. View the state employment map.
Related Stories
| Nov 1, 2010
John Pearce: First thing I tell designers: Do your homework!
John Pearce, FAIA, University Architect at Duke University, Durham, N.C., tells BD+C’s Robert Cassidy about the school’s construction plans and sustainability efforts, how to land work at Duke, and why he’s proceeding with caution when it comes to BIM.
| Nov 1, 2010
Vancouver’s former Olympic Village shoots for Gold
The first tenants of the Millennium Water development in Vancouver, B.C., were Olympic athletes competing in the 2010 Winter Games. Now the former Olympic Village, located on a 17-acre brownfield site, is being transformed into a residential neighborhood targeting LEED ND Gold. The buildings are expected to consume 30-70% less energy than comparable structures.
| Oct 27, 2010
Grid-neutral education complex to serve students, community
MVE Institutional designed the Downtown Educational Complex in Oakland, Calif., to serve as an educational facility, community center, and grid-neutral green building. The 123,000-sf complex, now under construction on a 5.5-acre site in the city’s Lake Merritt neighborhood, will be built in two phases, the first expected to be completed in spring 2012 and the second in fall 2014.
| Oct 21, 2010
GSA confirms new LEED Gold requirement
The General Services Administration has increased its sustainability requirements and now mandates LEED Gold for its projects.
| Oct 18, 2010
World’s first zero-carbon city on track in Abu Dhabi
Masdar City, the world’s only zero-carbon city, is on track to be built in Abu Dhabi, with completion expected as early as 2020. Foster + Partners developed the $22 billion city’s master plan, with Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, Aedas, and Lava Architects designing buildings for the project’s first phase, which is on track to be ready for occupancy by 2015.
| Oct 13, 2010
Editorial
The AEC industry shares a widespread obsession with the new. New is fresh. New is youthful. New is cool. But “old” or “slightly used” can be financially profitable and professionally rewarding, too.
| Oct 13, 2010
Test run on the HP Z200 SFF Good Value in a Small Package
Contributing Editor Jeff Yoders tests a new small-form factor, workstation-class desktop in Hewlett-Packard’s line that combines performance of its minitower machine with a smaller chassis and a lower price.
| Oct 13, 2010
Prefab Trailblazer
The $137 million, 12-story, 500,000-sf Miami Valley Hospital cardiac center, Dayton, Ohio, is the first major hospital project in the U.S. to have made extensive use of prefabricated components in its design and construction.
| Oct 13, 2010
Thought Leader
Sundra L. Ryce, President and CEO of SLR Contracting & Service Company, Buffalo, N.Y., talks about her firm’s success in new construction, renovation, CM, and design-build projects for the Navy, Air Force, and Buffalo Public Schools.
