Construction Employment Increased in 36 States During the Past Year, 28 States Added Jobs Between July and August

Construction firms added jobs in 36 states between August 2013 and August 2014 while construction employment increased in 28 states between July and August, according to an analysis today of Labor Department data by AGC of America. Association officials noted that construction activity continues to spread across most of the nation even as employment gains remain uneven by month and state. "The number of states with increases in construction employment over the last 12 months moderated in August but remained strongly positive as construction activity continues to spread across most of the nation," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "While most states remain far below pre-recession peak employment levels, more states are approaching previous highs and more contractors have been reporting difficulty in hiring qualified workers. These trends are likely to intensify if the recovery in construction continues." Read the full release here.