by Brianna Crandall — November 19, 2010—The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) recently released its analyses of three sets of federal employment data reflecting the current state and direction of commercial construction employment.
- Construction employment declined in 236 out of 337 metropolitan areas between September 2009 and September 2010 according to AGC’s analysis of federal employment data. Meanwhile, the number of metro areas adding jobs—56—matched the previous month’s data, indicating the sector remains weak more than a year after the official end of the recession, association officials noted.
The Chicago area lost more construction jobs (-20,500 jobs, -15 percent) than any other metro area while Napa, California (-1,000 jobs, -33 percent) lost the highest percentage. Columbus, Ohio, added more construction jobs (2,200 jobs, 7 percent) than any other metro area while Hanford-Corcoran, California, added the highest percentage (33 percent, 300 jobs).
- Even as the number of people working in construction increased by 5,000 between September and October 2010, the industry’s unemployment rate rose to 17.3 percent, according to an AGC analysis of other federal employment figures. Temporary government investments from programs like the BRAC and the stimulus boosted commercial construction employment, offsetting further job losses in residential construction, association officials noted.
- Construction employment declined in 31 states between August and September 2010, while fewer people are working in construction compared to last year in 40 states, AGC reported in an analysis of state employment data released by the Labor Department. Rhode Island (-2.9 percent, -500 jobs) lost the highest percent of construction jobs between August and September while California lost the most jobs (-2.5 percent, -13,300 jobs). Hawaii (4.9 percent, 1,400 jobs) experienced the largest one-month percentage increase.
Nine states and D.C. added construction jobs for the year ending September 2010. The largest year-over-year increase was in Oklahoma, where construction employment rose 9.8 percent (6,500 jobs). Among the 40 states that lost construction jobs over the past twelve months, Nevada experienced the largest percentage decline (-19.3 percent, -14,200) in jobs while California lost the most jobs (-50,700, -8.8 percent). Construction employment is likely to continue to worsen amid uncertainty about federal spending and tax rates for next year, association officials noted.
- Construction employment declined in 31 states between August and September 2010, while fewer people are working in construction compared to last year in 40 states, AGC reported in an analysis of state employment data released by the Labor Department. Rhode Island (-2.9 percent, -500 jobs) lost the highest percent of construction jobs between August and September while California lost the most jobs (-2.5 percent, -13,300 jobs). Hawaii (4.9 percent, 1,400 jobs) experienced the largest one-month percentage increase.
