Texas and Nevada Have Biggest Number and Percent of Annual Job Gains, While Louisiana Has Largest Losses; Texas and Hawaii Experience Largest One-Month Gains as Virginia and North Dakota Have Worst Declines
Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between September 2018 and September 2019, while construction employment increased in 28 states from August to September, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials said that it is likely additional states would have added new construction jobs if firms could find more qualified workers to hire.
“Although evidence is mounting that the overall economy is slowing, contractors in most states are still eager to hire,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But they are unable to find qualified workers in some cases, and job openings in construction have soared as unemployment rates are at historic lows in many states.”