Construction employment increased in five out of twelve metropolitan areas in NC between March 2011 and March 2012, decreased in four and stayed level in three, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Overall, the state lost 1200 construction jobs in the period between March 2011 and March 2012.
Association officials said that fewer metro areas added construction jobs in March compared to February because of disruptions to typical hiring patterns caused by weather.
“While last March firms were getting a late start to the construction season because the winter was so cold, this year’s warm winter allowed many firms to do their typical spring hiring in February,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “It is too early to tell whether the hiring momentum within construction is slowing down or just pausing to let contractors catch up with the weather.”
In the Carolinas metro areas, Greensboro-High Point added the highest percentage of new construction jobs (8% percent, 1000 jobs) followed by Raleigh-High Point (4 percent, 1200 jobs) . The largest job losses were in Wilmington (-900 jobs, -9 percent), and Hickory-Lonoir-Morganton (-100 jobs, -3 percent).
Association officials said construction employment was also impacted by the market uncertainty being created by unresolved federal infrastructure measures. Construction firms that build public infrastructure, in particular, are uncertain about future work levels given Washington’s failure to enact a host of long-term investment measures like the highway and transit bill. Read More.