Thirty-nine states lost construction jobs between August 2019 and August 2020 while 31 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between July and August according to a new analysis of Labor Department data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The new annual figures detail how the coronavirus pandemic has undermined demand for construction projects after a strong start to the year.
“The ongoing pandemic is prompting ever more private owners, developers, and public agencies to delay and cancel projects,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, citing the association’s mid-June survey and a more recent survey it produced in August. “The share of contractors that reported postponed or canceled projects nearly doubled while the share who reported winning new or expanded work dropped nearly in half.”
California lost the most construction jobs (-52,000, -5.8%) between August 2019 and August 2020, followed by New York (-46,000, -11.3%); Texas (-39,300 jobs, -5.0%); Massachusetts (-20,200 jobs, -12.4%) and Illinois (-17,200 jobs, -7.5%). Vermont lost the highest percent of construction jobs for the year (-29.6%, -4,500 jobs), followed by Massachusetts; Iowa (-11.8%, -9,300 jobs); Louisiana (-11.4%, -15,700 jobs) and New York.
Ten states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between August 2019 and August 2020 while construction employment was unchanged in Montana. Utah added the most new construction jobs (8,800 jobs, 8.0%), followed by Virginia (4,400 jobs, 2.2%); Maryland (3,800 jobs, 2.3%); Indiana (3,100 jobs, 2.1%) and Missouri (2,700 jobs, 2.1%). South Dakota added the highest percent (10.9%, 2,600 jobs), followed by Utah; Idaho (2.4%, 1,300 jobs); Maryland and Virginia.
California added the most new construction jobs (6,700 jobs, 0.8%) between July and August, followed by New York (5,200 jobs, 1.5%); Pennsylvania (4,100 jobs, 1.7%); Texas (3,300 jobs, 0.4%) and Oregon (3,200 jobs, 3.1%). New Mexico added the highest percentage (6.7%, 3,100) of jobs for the month, followed by Mississippi (3.4%, 1,400 jobs); Oregon and Kentucky (2.0%, 1,600 jobs).
Nineteen states lost construction jobs for the month with Nevada losing the most (-2,600 jobs, -2.8%). Other states losing a high number of construction jobs for the month include Florida (-2,200 jobs, -0.4%); Nebraska (-1,800 jobs, -3.3%) and North Carolina (-1,800 jobs, -0.8%). Hawaii lost the highest percentage (-3.5%, -1,300 jobs) of construction jobs for the month, followed by West Virginia (-3.3%, -1,100 jobs); Nebraska and Nevada.
Association officials said the best thing Washington leaders can do to boost demand for construction and employment in the sector is to increase investments in infrastructure and provide liability protections for firms taking steps to protect workers from the coronavirus. They added that extending the current surface transportation bill for one-year – which appears likely to occur – will provide needed short-term certainty for the transportation construction market.
“The best way to create jobs and boost economic activity is to rebuild aging infrastructure, provide market certainty and protect firms from needless suits,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer.
View state employment data, 12-mo, 1-mo rankings, map and high and lows. View the workforce survey results.
Related Stories
Market Data | Oct 31, 2016
Nonresidential fixed investment expands again during solid third quarter
The acceleration in real GDP growth was driven by a combination of factors, including an upturn in exports, a smaller decrease in state and local government spending and an upturn in federal government spending, says ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu.
Market Data | Oct 28, 2016
U.S. construction solid and stable in Q3 of 2016; Presidential election seen as influence on industry for 2017
Rider Levett Bucknall’s Third Quarter 2016 USA Construction Cost Report puts the complete spectrum of construction sectors and markets in perspective as it assesses the current state of the industry.
Industry Research | Oct 25, 2016
New HOK/CoreNet Global report explores impact of coworking on corporate real rstate
“Although coworking space makes up less than one percent of the world’s office space, it represents an important workforce trend and highlights the strong desire of today’s employees to have workplace choices, community and flexibility,” says Kay Sargent, Director of WorkPlace at HOK.
Market Data | Oct 24, 2016
New construction starts in 2017 to increase 5% to $713 billion
Dodge Outlook Report predicts moderate growth for most project types – single family housing, commercial and institutional building, and public works, while multifamily housing levels off and electric utilities/gas plants decline.
High-rise Construction | Oct 21, 2016
The world’s 100 tallest buildings: Which architects have designed the most?
Two firms stand well above the others when it comes to the number of tall buildings they have designed.
Market Data | Oct 19, 2016
Architecture Billings Index slips consecutive months for first time since 2012
“This recent backslide should act as a warning signal,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker.
Market Data | Oct 11, 2016
Building design revenue topped $28 billion in 2015
Growing profitability at architecture firms has led to reinvestment and expansion
Market Data | Oct 4, 2016
Nonresidential spending slips in August
Public sector spending is declining faster than the private sector.
Industry Research | Oct 3, 2016
Structure Tone survey shows cost is still a major barrier to building green
Climate change, resilience and wellness are also growing concerns.
Industry Research | Sep 27, 2016
Sterling Risk Sentiment Index indicates risk exposure perception remains stable in construction industry
Nearly half (45%) of those polled say election year uncertainty has a negative effect on risk perception in the construction market.
