According to Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) analysis of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), construction employment fell from June to July in 22 states, rose in 22 states, and was flat in six states and the District of Columbia.
California experienced the largest decline in construction from June to July (-3,300 jobs or -0.4 percent), followed by New Jersey (-1,600, -1.0 percent), Missouri (-1,500, -1.0 percent), and Ohio (-1,400, -0.5 percent). Wyoming lost the highest percentage for the month (-3.4 percent, -800 jobs), followed by North Dakota (-2.0 percent, -600 jobs), New Jersey, Missouri, and Oklahoma (-0.9 percent, -800 jobs). Colorado added the most construction jobs for the month (3,800 jobs or 2.1 percent), followed by Oregon (2,900, 2.6 percent), Illinois (2,900, 1.2 percent), Texas (2,800, 0.3 percent), and Georgia (2,100, 0.9 percent). The largest percentage gain occurred in Oregon, followed by Arkansas (2.2 percent, 1,400), Colorado, and West Virginia (1.6 percent, 600).
California lost the most construction jobs during the past 12 months (-18,200 jobs, -2.0 percent), followed by Washington (-9,600, -4.3 percent), New Jersey (-8,000, -4.9 percent), New York (-6,300, -1.6 percent), and Maryland (-4,100, -2.5 percent). The largest percentage loss was in New Jersey, followed by Washington, Arkansas (-2.7 percent, -1,800), Wyoming (-2.5 percent, -600), Vermont (-2.5 percent, -400) and Maryland. Texas added the most construction (27,000 jobs or 3.2 percent), followed by Ohio (13,600, 5.5 percent), Michigan (10,100, 5.1 percent), Virginia (10,100, 4.6%), and North Carolina (10,000, 3.7 percent). New Mexico had the largest percentage gain over 12 months (14.3 percent, 7,700), followed by West Virginia (12.3 percent, 4,100), Idaho (8.5 percent, 6,100), Alaska (7.7 percent, 1,400) and Kentucky (6.4 percent, 6,000).
