Forty-three states and Washington, D.C., added construction jobs from June 2017 to June 2018, and 32 states and Washington, D.C., added construction jobs from May to June, according to www.agc.org.
"Construction is proving to be a reliable source of employment growth in nearly every state, and contractors are eager to hire even more workers," says Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). "But finding qualified workers remains a significant challenge as other industries compete for talent, more workers reach retirement age and fewer young adults chose to pursue careers in construction."
Texas added the most construction jobs—42,900—between June 2017 and June 2018. California, Florida, Georgia, Arizona and Michigan also added a large number of construction jobs. Additionally, Arizona, Georgia and Michigan added the highest percentages of new construction jobs during the past year, followed by Nevada and Oregon.
Thirty-two states added construction jobs from May to June, with New York adding the most construction jobs—3,700—followed by Arizona, Texas and Massachusetts. North Dakota added the highest percentage of construction jobs for the month, followed by Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut and Wyoming.
Six states lost construction jobs between June 2017 and June 2018. New Jersey lost the highest number of construction jobs—4,800—followed by South Carolina and Missouri. Construction employment fell in 13 states from May to June, and California lost more than any other state—2,900.
Association officials said the job gains mask the challenges contractors face when searching for workers with appropriate skills. They noted the Trump administration has highlighted the importance of training and apprenticeship programs. Association officials urged federal agencies and Congress to enact a new Perkins Act that increases funding and makes it easier for education officials to create construction-focused education programs.
