
Only Nine Out of 337 Metropolitan Areas Add
Construction Jobs Between January 2009 and 2010
March 18, 2010
Construction employment continued to shrink in most American communities
as 313 out of 337 metro areas lost construction jobs between January
2009 and January 2010 according to a new analysis of federal employment
figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of
America.
"It's difficult to imagine that many regions will bounce back
when so many construction workers are unemployed," says Ken
Simonson, the association's chief economist. "Worse, with virtually
every city suffering significant construction job losses, there's
nowhere to hide from what is clearly a construction depression."
Simonson notes that Phoenix again lost more construction jobs (27,600)
than any other city in America. Steubenville, Ohio and Weirton,
W. Va., experienced the largest percentage decline in construction
employment (44 percent, 1,600 jobs), followed by Grand Junction,
Colo., (34 percent, 3,400 jobs); Las Vegas (32 percent, 24,500 jobs);
Napa, Calif. (32 percent, 1,100 jobs); and Santa Cruz, Calif. (31
percent, 1,100 jobs.)
Eau Claire, Wis., added the most construction jobs (500) between
January 2009 and January 2010, and experienced the largest percentage
increase (23 percent) Simonson adds. Other cities adding construction
jobs included Ithaca, N.Y. (9 percent, 100 jobs); Michigan City,
Ind. (6 percent, 100 jobs); Waterbury, Conn. (5 percent, 100 jobs);
and Grand Forks, N.D. and Minnesota (5 percent, 100 jobs).
Simonson says the figures underscore the need for new investments
in infrastructure as well as new tax incentives designed to stimulate
private sector demand.
"If we can't find a way to keep what's left of the industry
working, construction job losses are only going to get worse,"
says Simonson.
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