
Construction Employment Declines in Every State,
D.C., Between January 2009 and January 2010
March 10, 2010
The construction workforce was smaller in every state and the District
of Columbia in January 2010 than it was just 12 months earlier,
according to a new analysis of federal data released today by the
Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). The data indicated
just how widespread the construction downturn is, association officials
said, noting that 38 states and D.C. experienced a double digit
percentage drop in construction employment.
"Construction employment is dropping everywhere and plummeting
almost everywhere," says Ken Simonson, the association's chief
economist. "Looking at this data, it is quite clear that the
construction industry has yet to hit bottom."
Simonson noted that California lost more construction jobs, 128,700,
while North Dakota lost the least jobs, 200, over the past 12 months.
The five states with the largest percentage decline in employment
were Nevada (29.9 percent); Arizona (26 percent); Colorado (22.2
percent); Idaho (21 percent); and Florida (20.4 percent). Meanwhile,
North Dakota (1 percent); Nebraska (4.1 percent); Alaska (4.2 percent);
South Dakota (5.9 percent); and Arkansas (6.2 percent) experienced
the smallest decline in construction employment.
Even the monthly employment changes reflect the tough construction
conditions, said Simonson, noting that 31 states lost construction
jobs between December and January. He added that most of the states
adding jobs for the month lost jobs in December, often more than
they gained back in January. Simonson said this suggested the monthly
data was affected by unseasonable weather conditions that also are
likely to affect February's state employment figures.
Association officials cited the new state employment data in urging
the Senate to pass a ten-month extension to the nation's surface
transportation program and for the administration to accelerate
stimulus-funded construction projects.
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