construction employment posts gains across the country

New building jobs in almost all industry sectors increased this spring, according to the latest figures just released by the federal Department of Labor.

Even more, those new job gains were recorded in 39 states as well as the District of Columbia.

Numerically, Texas posted the greatest increase with the creation of roughly 35,200 new jobs, for a 4.2 percent gain, over the spring of 2018.

The next largest state was California more than 32,200 new jobs and a 3.8 percent gain; followed by Florida with 28,000 new construction jobs in the last year, for a 5.2 percent gain.

In the West, Arizona during the last year led the way with 17,300 new jobs, making up an 11.1 percent gain. Nevada was not far behind with a gain of 15,200 jobs over the last twelve months, comprising a 17.2 percent gain.

Almost all of the states of the West, including Colorado and New Mexico, saw some kind of job growth. Only Montana recorded a job loss of around 800 positions, for a 2.8 percent decline.

Of the eleven states that lost construction jobs, Louisiana was first with a decline of 9,100 jobs; followed by South Carolina, off by 3,100 jobs; and Maryland, with 2,400 fewer jobs now over last year at this time.

In crunching the latest job numbers, Stephen Sandherr, Associated General Contractors chief executive officer, said construction employment overall would most likely have posted even higher gains in the last year, “if firms could only find more workers to hire.”

Continued Sandherr: “Making it easier to prepare and attract more people into the industry will provide significant benefits to the broader economy.”

By Garry Boulard

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