Seasonally adjusted construction employment rose from October 2022 to October 2023 in 40 states and the District of Columbia, fell in eight states, and held steady in Connecticut and Virginia, according to the Associated General Contractors of America’s (AGC) analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). California added the most construction jobs (21,000, 2.3 percent), followed by Ohio (17,700, 7.5 percent), and Texas (17,000, 2.1 percent).
Kentucky had the largest percentage increase (15 percent, 12,300 jobs), followed by Arkansas (13 percent, 7,700), and Louisiana (10 percent, 12,900). Colorado lost the most jobs (-7,200, -3.9 percent), followed by Missouri (-4,200, -3.2 percent), and North Carolina (-4,000, -1.6 percent).
The largest percentage losses were in North Dakota (-2,300 jobs, -8.5 percent), Colorado, and Missouri. Construction employment rose in October in 22 states, fell in 26 states and D.C., and was flat in New Jersey and Vermont. Ohio added the most jobs over the month (6,000, 2.4 percent), followed by California (4,500, 0.5 percent). Kentucky had the largest percentage gain (2.6 percent, 2,400 jobs), followed by Ohio. For D.C., Delaware, and Hawaii, BLS posts combined totals for mining, logging, and construction; AGC treats the changes as all from construction.
Input prices and bid prices for construction changed little from September to October, according to data from the BLS. The producer price index (PPI) for material and service inputs to new nonresidential construction declined 0.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, for the month and 0.1 percent year over year (y/y). Most inputs had modest changes for the month and y/y, with a few exceptions: the PPI for diesel fuel slumped 4.3 percent for the month and 33 percent y/y; ready-mix concrete was up 0.1 percent and 11 percent, respectively; and cement fell 0.7 percent for the month but rose 8.5 percent y/y. Notable declines included the PPI for steel mill products (-2.5 percent and -9.9 percent, respectively); lumber and plywood (-0.9 percent and -11.5 percent); and truck transportation of freight (up 1.1 percent for the month but down 7.0 percent y/y). The index for new nonresidential building construction—a measure of prices that contractors say they would bid to erect a fixed set of buildings—fell 0.4 percent for the month and rose just 0.6 percent y/y. Changes in PPIs for new, repair, and maintenance work by subcontractors were mixed: roofing contractors (-0.1 percent and 9.3 percent, respectively), plumbing (0.5 percent and 4.1 percent), electrical (-0.6 percent and 2.4 percent), and concrete contractors (1.3 percent and -1.8 percent). AGC posted tables of construction PPIs.