Steel Markets

AGC: 31 States Add Construction Jobs in May

June 22, 2019

Construction employment increased in 31 states and the District of Columbia from April to May, according to an analysis of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America. In the 12 months to May 2019, 39 states and D.C. added construction jobs.

“Construction demand remains strong, and contractors increased their workforce in most states over the past year, yet the record number of job openings at the end of April implies contractors would add even more workers if they could,” stated Chief Economist Ken Simonson. “With the unemployment rate now near a 50-year low, it is more challenging than ever for contractors to hire and retain qualified employees.”

To address workforce shortages, the association urges federal officials to boost funding for career and technical education programs and enact immigration reforms. “New education funding would make it easier for schools to set up construction-focused programs while immigration reform will allow more people with construction skills to legally enter the country,” said AGC.

Construction Jobs by State

Texas added the most construction jobs over the year (35,200 jobs, 4.8 percent), followed by California (32,200 jobs, 1.5 percent), Florida (28,000 jobs, 5.2 percent), Arizona (17,300 jobs, 11.1 percent) and Nevada (15,200 jobs, 17.2 percent). West Virginia added the highest percentage of construction jobs over 12 months (26.5 percent, 9,900 jobs), followed by Nevada, Arizona, North Dakota (10.9 percent, 2,800 jobs), Wyoming (10.7 percent, 2,100 jobs) and Alaska (10.3 percent, 1,600 jobs). Construction employment reached a record high in four states: Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

Ten states shed construction jobs over the latest 12 months, while employment was unchanged in Iowa. Louisiana lost the largest number and percentage of construction jobs (-9,100 jobs, -6.0 percent). Other states with large job losses included South Carolina (-3,100 jobs, -3.0 percent), Maryland (-2,400 jobs, -1.5 percent), Mississippi (-1,700 jobs, -3.8 percent), Maine (-1,200 jobs, -4.1 percent) and Missouri (-1,200 jobs, -1.0 percent). Other states with a steep percentage decline include Vermont (-5.9 percent, -900 jobs), Maine, Mississippi and South Carolina.

California added the most construction jobs between April and May (12,800 jobs, 1.5 percent), followed by Florida (5,500 jobs, 1.0 percent), Texas (3,300 jobs, 0.4 percent), Washington (2,200 jobs, 1.0 percent), Wisconsin (2,100 jobs, 1.7 percent) and Nevada (2,000 jobs, 2.0 percent). North Dakota added the highest percentage of construction jobs for the month (6.3 percent, 1,700 jobs), followed by Nevada, California, and Wisconsin.

Construction employment decreased from April to May in 17 states and was unchanged in Alaska and Idaho. New York lost the most construction jobs for the month (-5,500 jobs, -1.3 percent), followed by Massachusetts (2,300 jobs, -1.4 percent), Illinois (-2,000 jobs, -0.9 percent) and Ohio (-2,000 jobs, -0.9 percent). West Virginia had the steepest percentage loss of construction jobs between April and May (-2.7 percent, -1,300 jobs), followed by Kansas (-2.6 percent, -1,600 jobs), Connecticut (-1.5 percent, -900 jobs), Massachusetts and New York.