More states lost construction jobs in May than at any point since June 2011, according to an analysis conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America using data from the U.S. Labor Department. The latest losses continue a trend that began in June 2011-since then, 30 states have experienced annual job losses.
More states lost construction jobs in May than at any point since June 2011, according to an analysis conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America using data from the U.S. Labor Department. The latest losses continue a trend that began in June 2011-since then, 30 states have experienced annual job losses.
"As the public sector continues to restrain growth in construction demand, we will continue to see weak reports like this," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist.
Among states that lost construction jobs between May 2011 and May 2012, Alaska lost the highest percentage (-20.4 percent, -3,200 jobs), followed by Wisconsin (-10 percent, -9,200 jobs) and Mississippi (-9.2 percent, -4,500 jobs). Florida lost the most jobs (-22,200 jobs, -6.6 percent), followed by Illinois (-12,200 jobs, -4.7 percent), New York (-12,100 jobs, -3.9 percent) and Wisconsin.
Only 19 states plus Washington, D.C., added construction jobs between May 2011 and May 2012, while construction employment was stagnant in Kansas for the year. Montana added the highest percentage of new construction jobs for the year (15.2 percent, 3,400 jobs), followed by North Dakota (13.7 percent, 3,200 jobs) and Nebraska (10.6 percent, 4,400 jobs). Texas added the most new construction jobs (15,600 jobs, 2.8 percent), followed by California (11,700 jobs, 2.1 percent), Arizona (11,000, 10 percent) and Indiana (8,800 jobs, 7.5 percent).
Looking at losses in just May 2012, Mississippi had the steepest percentage decline (-5.1 percent, -2,500 jobs), followed by Wyoming (-4.9 percent, -1,000 jobs) and Rhode Island (-3.9 percent, -600 jobs). New York had the largest number of job losses (-7,800 jobs, -2.5 percent) followed by North Carolina (-4,800 jobs, -2.7 percent), Maryland (-4,600 jobs, -3.2 percent) and Illinois (-4,600 jobs, -2.3 percent).
Meanwhile, 21 states added jobs during May 2012: Nebraska added both the highest percentage and the most new construction jobs for the month (8.2 percent, 3,400 jobs), followed by Montana (7.6 percent, 1,700 jobs) and West Virginia (2.5 percent, 800 jobs). Other states adding a high number of construction jobs for the month were California (2,600 jobs, 0.5 percent), Ohio (2,400 jobs, 1.4 percent) and Texas (2,400 jobs, 0.5 percent).