Construction Employment Increases in 34 States from a Year Ago but Declined in 32 States and D.C. from November to December

Construction firms added jobs in 34 states over the past 12 months, but construction employment declined in 32 states and the District of Columbia between November and December as many parts of the country coped with weather, according to an analysis released today by AGC of America of Labor Department data. Association officials noted that while weather in parts of the country likely contributed to many of the declines, they urged Washington officials to take steps to ensure continued growth for the industry and the economy. "While the year-over-year numbers are encouraging, we want to make sure the monthly declines are more about the weather than they are a sudden downturn in demand," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "While we will have to wait for more data to understand where the market is heading, the industry could certainly benefit from more private-sector activity and public-sector investments." Read the full release here.