NC construction jobs drop in 12 metro areas

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Construction employment declined in twelve NC metropolitan areas between July 2009 and July 2010, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The employment figures demonstrate the widespread decline in demand for construction services that continues to outpace stimulus–funded work, association officials noted.

“There is no doubt that we have seen an increase in stimulus activity this summer,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Unfortunately, that increase in stimulus activity is largely being overshadowed by continuing declines in overall demand for construction that are likely to persist well into next year.”

Simonson noted that the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill area lost more construction jobs (7,000 jobs, 16 percent) than any other metro area in the Tar Heel state. Other areas experiencing large declines in construction employment included Durham-Chapel Hill (1,200 jobs, 14 percent); Raleigh-Cary (3,600 jobs, 12 percent); Rocky Mount (300 jobs, 11 percent); Burlington (300 jobs, 11 percent); Wilmington (900 jobs, 10 percent); and Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton (400 jobs, 10 percent).

All twelve NC metro areas in the AGC report lost construction jobs over the past 12 months. The Fayetteville area lost the fewest construction jobs (100 jobs. 2 percent). The Greenville metro area lost 200 construction jobs (6%).

“As much as we would hate to see how much worse the construction employment figures would be without the stimulus, the fact is our industry is continuing to suffer even as some areas of the economy have begun to expand,” said Stephen Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “And with regular, long–term infrastructure bills stalled in Congress, it looks like construction workers will have little opportunity to continue rebuilding our economy.”

View construction employment figures by metro area or by rank Here. View updated state–by–state fact sheets about the current state of the construction market Here.

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