Forty-one states added construction jobs between October 2016 and October 2017, and 26 states added jobs between September and October, according to an analysis of government labor data by The Associated General Contractors of America.
Job gains would have been more widespread if enough labor was available, said Ken Simonsen, the association’s chief economist, in a statement.
"Although construction employment has risen over the past year, many contractors report difficulty finding workers with the right skills," Simonson said. "Last month, construction employment increased in only half the states, a total that would probably have been higher if workers were available."
California added the most construction jobs over the past 12 months with 44,400. It was followed by Florida with 35,600 jobs; Texas with 17,200 jobs; Oregon with 10,700 jobs; Nevada with 10,600 jobs; and Washington with 10,500 jobs.
Nine states shed construction jobs over the past 12 months. The highest loss was in Missouri, down 5,800; followed by Iowa, down 5,300 jobs; Illinois, down 3,500 jobs; and North Carolina, down 3,300 jobs.
