A new analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America shows that between March 2016 and March 2017 thirty-nine states added construction jobs. Using data from the U.S. Department of Labor, the AGC noted that while contractors are worried about being able to find enough workers in the future. California added the most construction jobs (42,200 jobs) over the past year, followed by Florida (36,500 jobs), Texas (18,900 jobs), and Washington (12,200 jobs). Ten states and the District of Columbia shed construction jobs between March 2016 and March 2017. Employment was unchanged in West Virginia. Illinois lost the highest number of construction jobs (-4,900 jobs, -2.2 percent), followed by Mississippi (-4,800 jobs, -10.4 percent) and Iowa (-2,000 jobs, -2.4 percent). Mississippi lost the highest percentage for the year, followed by D.C. (-9.3 percent, -1,500 jobs) and Alaska (-6.6 percent, -1,100 jobs). Construction employment declined in 30 states and D.C. during the past month and was unchanged in Montana, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Illinois saw the biggest loss of construction jobs (-7,100 jobs), followed by Louisiana (-6,700 jobs), and Maryland (-4,500 jobs).
“More high school students should know that construction offers above-average starting pay, steady work and good career advancement,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “Increasingly, workers get to use cutting-edge technology such as drones, virtual- or mixed-reality devices and GPS- or laser-guided tools.”
Click here to read the full report on AGC.com.
