Twenty-four states added construction jobs in April amid continued labor shortages, according to Associated General Contractors of America. Forty-two states added construction jobs during the past year.
“Contractors continue to report strong demand for projects and have added employees in all but a handful of states over the past year,” said Ken Simonson, AGC’s chief economist. “The fact that employment dipped in April in half the states may reflect an inability to find qualified workers at a time of record-low construction unemployment, not a slowdown in demand.”
Washington added the most construction jobs from March to April—4,300—and South Dakota had the largest percentage increase of construction jobs for the month—2.7%. During the past 12 months, Texas added the most construction jobs—28,000—and Arkansas had the largest percentage increase—9.8%
Texas lost the largest number of construction jobs (-8,500) for the month, and Alaska had the largest percentage decline (-4.2%). During the past 12 months, California lost the most construction jobs (-5,100) and West Virginia had the largest percentage decline (-3.7%).
