Construction employment in the three county Triangle region declined by 3,600 workers, or 9.4 percent, between August 2009 and August 2010, the Triangle Business Journal reports.
The Durham/Chapel Hill metro lost 1,000 workers, to 7,300, during the period. Raleigh/Cary, meanwhile, lost 2,600 to 27,100.
Statewide during the period, North Carolina lost 15,600 construction workers, or 8 percent.
Looking at the country as a whole, however, not all the news is downbeat, reports the Associated General Contractors of America. During the 12 months, 56 out of 337 metro areas, nearly 17 percent, actually added construction workers, the most since 2008.
“With construction employment on the mend in an increasing number of areas, it appears that the worst is finally over,” says Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The fact remains, however, that this industry has a long way to go before we see construction employment back to pre-recession levels.”
Read More.