North Carolina Construction News staff writer
North Carolina’s construction sector shed 1,200 jobs in August even as the state’s overall nonfarm employment grew by 4,800, according to recently-released figures. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 3.7 per cent, unchanged from July and the same as a year ago, while the national rate rose slightly to 4.3 per cent.
The decline in construction employment came amid broader gains in other sectors, including Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+4,400), Leisure and Hospitality (+700) and Manufacturing (+500). Professional and Business Services and Information also posted modest declines in August.
Over the past year, however, construction has posted net growth of 8,000 jobs, reflecting continued demand for residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects across the state. Other sectors showing strong annual gains included Professional and Business Services (+21,500), Private Education and Health Services (+21,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (+10,000). Manufacturing (-8,400) and Information (-800) saw declines over the same period.
“While construction saw a modest pullback in August, the sector remains a key driver of North Carolina’s economic growth over the past year,” said state labor analysts. “Ongoing development projects in both residential and commercial construction, along with transportation infrastructure initiatives, continue to support long-term employment in the industry.”
County-level unemployment figures for August, which provide additional detail on regional construction trends, will be released Wednesday, Oct. 1.