Construction Employment Fluctuates Throughout Country

According to new data released by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department on Tuesday, construction employment rose in half the nation’s states but decreased in the other 25 last year.

“Construction employment gains are likely to remain spotty for months to come,” Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, wrote in a press release. “Local factors, rather than regional or industry trends, seem to dictate whether a state has rising or falling construction employment in a given month.”

North Dakota recorded a 19 percent gain in construction jobs over the past year, ranking it first among other states that recorded gains. Oklahoma and Washington, D.C. ranked second and third place in construction employment gains, respectively.

Georgia lost 9.5 percent of its construction jobs from September to October, the highest percentage among states whose employment numbers in the contruction sector dropped. 

Association officials worry that the super committee’s failure to reach a deal to cut the U.S. deficit will have a negative impact on construction employment. Mandatory federal spending that are set to take effect as a reuslt of the 12-member panel’s failure will likely cut investments into infrastructure projects across the U.S.

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