Forty-two states and Washington, D.C., added construction jobs from November 2017 to November 2018, and 23 states added construction jobs from October 2018 to November 2018, according to www.agc.org.
"November was the first month this year in which fewer than half the states experienced monthly increases in construction employment," says Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). "At a time when job openings are at record highs, the recent slowdown in hiring in some states may indicate contractors are unable to find qualified workers rather than a slackening in demand for construction."
Texas added the most construction jobs—47,100—between November 2017 and November 2018. Florida, California, Arizona and Georgia also added a large number of construction jobs. Additionally, Wyoming added the highest percentage of new construction jobs during the past year, followed by Arizona, Nevada, North Dakota, Connecticut and Oregon.
Twenty-three states added construction jobs from October 2018 to November 2018, with California adding the most construction jobs—3,300—followed by Texas, Pennsylvania and Arizona. Wyoming added the highest percentage of construction jobs for the month.
Seven states lost construction jobs between November 2017 and November 2018. Missouri lost the highest number of construction jobs—3,300—followed by South Carolina and New Jersey. Construction employment fell in 22 states from October 2018 to November 2018, and Florida lost more than any other state—3,800.
