A recent analysis of Labor Department data released by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) saw an increase in the number of construction jobs at the beginning of 2014.
According to an analysis of Labor Department data released by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), construction firms added jobs in 37 states over the past 12 months and in 30 states between January and February.
Florida led all states in both percentage and total construction gains with an 11% rise and 39,200 new jobs between February 2013 and February 2014. Other states adding a high percentage of new construction jobs for the past 12 months included Nevada (10.4%, 5,800 jobs); Oregon (9.8%, 7,000 jobs); and Minnesota (8.1%, 7,900 jobs). After Florida, California added the most new construction jobs for the year (38,800 jobs, 6.2%), followed by Texas (23,700 jobs, 3.9%) and Minnesota.
A total of ten states plus Washington, D.C., dropped in construction jobs between February 2013 and February 2014, while employment was constant in three other states. The largest number of losses occurred in Indiana (-3,300, -2.6%), followed by New Jersey (-2,800 jobs, -2.1%) and West Virginia (-2,300 jobs, -6.5%). West Virginia had the highest percentage decline in construction employment, followed by the District of Columbia (-5.0%, -700 jobs); Montana (-2.9%, -700 jobs); and Indiana.
California (14,100 jobs, 2.2%) added the most jobs between January and February, followed by Florida (7,200 jobs, 1.9%); Texas (5,700 jobs, 0.9%) and Georgia (3,500 jobs, 2.4%). Wyoming 3.3%, 700 jobs) had the highest percentage increase for the month, followed by Missouri (2.8%, 2,900 jobs); Connecticut (2.5%, 1,400 jobs) and Michigan (2.5%, 3,300 jobs).
Twenty states and the District of Columbia lost construction jobs between January and February with Ohio (-8,100 jobs, -4.2%) losing the most. Other states experiencing large monthly declines in total construction employment included Maryland (-3,900 jobs, -2.6%); Kansas (-3,000 jobs, -4.9%); and North Carolina (-2,300 jobs, -1.3%). Kansas experienced the highest monthly percentage decline, followed by Ohio, Alaska (-3.4%, -600 jobs) and South Dakota (-3.2%, -700 jobs).