Construction employment increased by 1600 jobs (0.9 percent) in North Carolina between February and March the Associated General Contractors of America reported in an analysis of state employment data released by the Labor Department. However year-to-year, North Carolina lost 6,200 construction jobs (-3.5 percent) over the past year.
“These data show that recovery is spotty and variable in construction, as the location and number of states with job gains retreated from the levels in February,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “While three states posted healthy year-over-year employment gains of more than five percent and North Dakota reached an all-time high in construction employment, West Virginia lost one out of nine construction jobs in the past year.”
South Carolina lost 4000 construction jobs (-0.5 percent) over the last month and 1,900 jobs (2.4 percent)over the past year, association officials reported
The largest percentage drop in construction employment between March 2010 and 2011 took place in West Virginia (-11.1 percent, -3,700 jobs); followed by Wisconsin (-8.0 percent, -7,700 jobs); Georgia (-7.6 percent, -11,500 jobs) and Nevada (-7.5 percent, -4,600 jobs). Florida (-14,700 jobs, -4.2 percent) had the largest number of year-over-year job losses, followed by New York (-12,700 jobs, -4.1 percent) and Georgia.
Association officials said the generally weak results showed the urgency of adopting federal and state measures to improve the investment climate for construction. They urged officials in Washington and in state capitals to review and act on the group’s recently released construction industry recovery plan “Building a Stronger Future.”
“It is unacceptable to allow infrastructure to deteriorate when there are thousands of skilled construction workers and capable companies ready to deliver quality projects,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “The steps we’ve proposed to cut red tape and address aging infrastructure will put millions to work and boost the overall economy.”
View construction employment figures here by state.