Illinois has reported a construction industry job loss of three percent, or 6,000 jobs in the past year, according to data gathered by the federal Department of Labor and reported by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA). Construction employment dropping to 211,900 from 218,500 between April 2016 and 2017.
Elsewhere, Mississippi lost the highest percentage for the year (-3,600 jobs, -8.1 percent) followed by the District of Columbia (-7.5 percent, -1,200 jobs) and Alaska (-6.6 percent, -1,100 jobs).
Among the 27 states that shed construction jobs between March and April, Texas lost more actual workers than any other state (-10,300 jobs, -1.4 percent), followed by Ohio (-7,400 jobs, -3.4 percent) and Illinois (-4,500 jobs, -2.1 percent). Montana (-3.8 percent, -1,100 jobs) lost the highest percentage of construction jobs for the month, followed by Ohio; West Virginia (-2.8 percent, -900 jobs) and Kansas (-2.5 percent, -1,600 jobs).
Overall, 39 states added construction jobs between April 2016 and April 2017 amid growing demand for construction services, yet more than half the states lost construction jobs between March and April amid tight labor market conditions, the AGCA reported. Association officials said firms in many parts of the country are having a hard time finding qualified workers, which is likely holding back broader employment gains in some states.
Elsewhere, “demand for construction remains robust, so it is likely that a number of the monthly employment declines are being caused by a lack of workers instead of a lack of work,” said AGCA chief economist Ken Simonson. “If the labor market remains tight, firms may have to adjust their business practices as they shift limited personnel from one project to the next.”
California added the most construction jobs (38,000 jobs, 4.9 percent) during the past year. Other states adding a high number of new construction jobs for the past 12 months include Florida (34,400 jobs, 7.4 percent); Washington (11,200 jobs, 6.1 percent); Nevada (9,700 jobs, 13.0 percent) and Michigan (8,200 jobs, 5.3 percent). Nevada also added the highest percentage of new construction jobs during the past year, followed by New Hampshire (10.2 percent, 2,600 jobs); Rhode Island (10.0 percent, 1,800 jobs) and Oregon (9.0 percent, 8,000 jobs). Nebraska was the only state to set a new high for construction employment.
Construction employment was unchanged in North Carolina and West Virginia.
Twenty-one states added construction jobs between March and April while construction employment was unchanged in two states and the District of Columbia. California (7,200 jobs, 0.9 percent) added the most construction jobs for the month. Other states adding a high number of construction jobs include Minnesota (3,600 jobs, 3.0 percent); Nevada (2,700 jobs, 3.3 percent) and Arizona (2,500 jobs, 1.8 percent). Connecticut (4.7 percent, 2,800 jobs) added the highest percentage of construction jobs during the past month, followed by New Hampshire (3.7 percent, 1,000 jobs); Nevada and Minnesota.
Association officials urged federal, state and local officials to take additional steps to make it easier for school systems to set up career and technical education programs focusing on construction. In particular, they urged Congress to work quickly to pass new Perkins Act legislation that will increase funding for career and technical education programs and give local school officials more flexibility to offer courses based on local workforce demands.
“Investing in career and technical education programs not only provide vital professional skills, they also signal to students that high-paying construction careers should be an option for the future,” said AGCA chief executive officer Stephen E. Sandherr.
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