Construction Employment Increased in 38 States and D.C. During Past Year

Construction firms added jobs in 38 states and the District of Columbia between November 2013 and November 2014 while construction employment increased in 26 states and D.C. between October and November, according to an analysis today of Labor Department data by AGC of America. Association officials noted that the list of states gaining jobs has varied significantly from month to month as the market remains extremely variable. "Construction job growth remains positive overall but volatile," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "Although more than three-quarters of states have added construction jobs from year-earlier levels throughout 2014, the list of states with gains keeps changing. Only North Dakota, Louisiana and Oklahoma have exceeded their pre-recession peaks for construction employment this year, while most states are still at least 10 percent below previous highs." Read the full release here.