Construction Industry Continues to Lose Jobs; AGC Calls on Washington for Jobs
The five biggest percentage losses in construction employment over the year occurred in Nevada, Arizona, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Connecticut
(11/23/2009)
Posted by: Chris Gaerig, Online Editor
Construction workers continued to suffer dramatic job losses as all but one state saw declines in construction employment this October compared to last year, according to an analysis of new state-by-state employment figures released by the federal government. The analysis, conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America, points to the need for Washington officials to include new infrastructure investments as they consider proposals for a new “jobs” bill.
“A shockingly large portion of the construction industry’s workforce has simply evaporated,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association. He added that the national construction unemployment rate of 18.7% was the highest of any sector in October and the industry accounted for one-fifth of all job losses in the past year, even though construction only employs one out of 20 workers.
The five biggest percentage losses in construction employment over the year occurred in Nevada (26.9%, or 30,200 jobs), Arizona (24.2%, or 42,600 jobs), Tennessee (22.3%, or 29,300 jobs), Kentucky (20.8%, or 17,600 jobs), and Connecticut (19.3 %, or 12,500 jobs). He noted that 40 states saw double-digit percentage decreases in construction employment for the year. Construction employment, meanwhile, only expanded in North Dakota during the past year, with an increase of 1.9%, totaling 400 jobs.
Simonson noted that when compared to September 2009, 33 states shed construction jobs (including Washington, D.C.), 18 added construction jobs, and 2 states remained stable. That compares favorably with the month-over-month change from August to September 2009, when 36 states lost, 13 (including DC) added and 2 saw no change in the number of construction jobs.
“Because construction workers have carried the burden of the downturn’s job losses, the easiest way to cut unemployment and boost the economy is to get America building again,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “Increasing investments in highway, transit, and infrastructure construction must be the core component to the ‘jobs’ bill that Washington officials are committing to pass soon.”
