Construction employment increased in 39 states and Washington, D.C., between August 2018 and August 2019, according to an analysis of government data by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). The 12-month increase is in line with recent data reports from the organization. Forty states added construction jobs between July 2018 and July 2019, 42 states added jobs between June 2018 and June 2019, and 39 states and Washington, D.C., added jobs in the 12 months after May 2018.
The AGC also found 29 states increased construction employment from July to August, an increase from the 25 states that added jobs between June and July. Prior to July, month-to-month changes in construction employment was positive in over 30 states dating back to May.
“Even more states probably would have posted gains in construction employment if firms could find enough people to hire,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “They are finding most craft positions hard to fill, even though average pay in construction pays is higher than the all-industry average in nearly every state.”
Florida, New York, Nevada, Missouri, and Texas added the most construction jobs in pure numbers between July and August, while Tennessee and California lost the largest amount of construction jobs during the month. Nevada, Missouri, South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Nebraska added the highest percentage of construction jobs in the month, while Wyoming and Mississippi experienced the largest percentage decrease in the same period.
In the 12-month period between August 2018 and August 2019, California, Florida, and Arizona added the most construction jobs in pure numbers, while North Dakota, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico added the highest percentage of construction jobs. Construction employment reached record highs in Nebraska and Texas. Louisiana lost the largest number of jobs ad the highest percentage of construction jobs in the 12-month period.
