Steel Markets
Construction Demand Requires More Workers
Written by Sandy Williams
August 16, 2019
Construction jobs are plentiful but the industry says more workers are needed. The number of new jobs available indicates there is a need for new federal investments in career and technical education programs, along with immigration reform, said the Associated General Contractors of America..
Forty states added construction jobs between July 2018 and July 2019, while construction employment increased in 25 states from June to July, according to AGC’s latest analysis of Labor Department data.
“Demand for projects, and the workers to build them, shows no sign of letting up in most states, and contractors continue to increase headcount when they can find qualified workers,” stated chief economist Ken Simonson. “But job openings at the end of June were the highest ever for June, suggesting that contractors are struggling to find all the workers they need in many states.”
Texas added the most construction jobs over the year (48,400 jobs, 6.6 percent), followed by California (37,100 jobs, 4.3 percent), Florida (21,300 jobs, 3.9 percent), and Arizona (17,400 jobs, 11 percent). Wyoming added the highest percentage of construction jobs over 12 months (13.1 percent, 2,600 jobs), followed by West Virginia (11.7 percent, 5,000 jobs), North Dakota (11.6 percent, 3,000 jobs), and Arizona. Construction employment reached a record high in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington.
Ten states shed construction jobs over the latest 12 months. Louisiana lost the largest number and percentage of construction jobs (-12,100 jobs, -7.9 percent). Other states with large job losses include Ohio (-2,900 jobs, -1.3 percent), South Carolina (-2,800 jobs, -2.7 percent), and Massachusetts (-2,500 jobs, -1.6 percent). Other states with a substantial percentage decline include Vermont (-3.3 percent, -500 jobs), South Carolina, Connecticut (-2.6 percent, -1,500 jobs), and Massachusetts.
Texas added the most construction jobs between June and July (6,300 jobs, 0.8 percent), followed by Utah (2,700 jobs, 2.5 percent), Washington (1,900 jobs, 0.9 percent), Virginia (1,700 jobs, 0.8 percent), and Minnesota (1,600 jobs, 1.2 percent). Utah added the highest percentage of construction jobs for the month, followed by Montana (2.1 percent, 600 jobs), Minnesota, and North Dakota (1.1 percent, 300 jobs).
Sandy Williams
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