California and Arkansas Add Most Jobs for the Year, West Virginia Has Biggest Annual Declines; New York, Montana and Idaho Top Monthly List of Gainers, Florida and Alaska Have Largest One-Month Drop

Nov 20, 2015 -- Construction job growth rebounded in October as 43 states and the District of Columbia recorded employment increases from a year earlier, while 35 states added construction jobs in the past month, according to analysis of Labor Department data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned, however, that sustaining such widespread job gains will require support at all levels of government for construction training programs.

"Construction job gains were more widespread than at any time since last February," said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association. "Several states that had recently experienced year-over-year job losses began adding workers, while net employment gains accelerated in numerous other states."

In the past 12 months construction spending rose 14 percent, the fastest clip since 2006, Simonson noted. He said the spending data suggest contractors will continue to expand hiring if they can find qualified workers. But he cautioned that may be difficult in many states because the number of unemployed jobseekers in October who last worked in construction was at the lowest October level since 2006.

California added the most new construction jobs (49,800 jobs, 7.3 percent) between October 2014 and October 2015. Other states adding a high number of new construction jobs for the past 12 months include New York (21,900 jobs, 6.4 percent), Florida (18,700 jobs, 4.6 percent) and Washington (11,500 jobs, 7.0 percent). Arkansas (18.1 percent, 8,200 jobs) added the highest percentage of new construction jobs during the past year, followed by Idaho (12.2 percent, 4,400 jobs), Kansas (11.7 percent, 6,900 jobs) and Nevada (11.2 percent, 7,100 jobs).

Seven states shed construction jobs during the past 12 months. West Virginia (-17.3 percent, -5,800 jobs) lost the highest percent and total number of construction jobs. Other states that lost a high percentage of jobs for the year include Rhode Island (-5.6 percent, -900 jobs), Minnesota (-3.5 percent, -3,800 jobs), Indiana (-2.0 percent, -2,400 jobs) and New Mexico (-1.4 percent, -600 jobs).

New York (7,800 jobs, 2.2 percent) added the most construction jobs between September and October. Other states adding a high number of construction jobs include California (7,600 jobs, 1.0 percent), Ohio (5,800 jobs, 3.1 percent) and Colorado (4,100 jobs, 2.7 percent). Idaho (4.6 percent, 1,800 jobs) and Montana (4.6 percent, 1,100 jobs) both added the highest percentage of construction jobs during the past month, followed by Rhode Island (3.4 percent, 500 jobs), Hawaii (3.3 percent, 1,100 jobs) and Ohio.

Thirteen states lost construction jobs during the past month while construction employment was unchanged in two states and the District of Columbia. Florida (-5,500 jobs, -1.3 percent) shed more construction jobs than any other state, followed by Pennsylvania (-4,200 jobs, -1.7 percent) and Minnesota (-2,200 jobs, -2.1 percent). Alaska (-4.8 percent, -900 jobs) lost the highest percentage of construction jobs between September and October, followed by West Virginia (-3.1 percent, -900 jobs) and Minnesota.

Association officials urged leaders at all levels of government to put in place measures to make it easier for school districts, local associations and firms to establish construction recruitment and training programs, along the lines of the steps outlined in the association's Workforce Development Plan. "Construction firms won't be able to keep adding jobs at their current pace if there aren't enough qualified workers available to hire," said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer.

View the state employment data by rank and state.  View state employment map.

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