Construction Employment Declined in 28 States Between October 2011 and 2012

Construction employment declined in 28 states from October 2011 to October 2012 even as 31 states and D.C. added jobs during the past month, according to an analysis by AGC of Labor Department data.  Association officials noted that residential construction gains were being undermined by the broader business uncertainty being caused by the threat of the looming fiscal cliff. “The industry remains stuck in neutral, with close balance each month between the number of states that add or lose construction jobs,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Despite a strong pickup in homebuilding and multifamily construction, uncertainty about the fiscal cliff appears to be holding back private investment, while public agencies keep trimming construction budgets.” Read full press release here. The news was covered by the Dallas Morning News, Memphis Commercial Appeal, Greater Baton Rouge Business Report, Birmingham Business Journal, Kansas City Business Journal, Business First of Louisville, New Mexico Business Weekly, Phoenix Business Journal, Triangle Business Journal and the Wichita Business Journal.