Construction employment increased in 39 states in July from a year earlier, while 29 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between June and July, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials noted that demand for projects—and the workers to execute them—remains robust in most states but there is a pressing need to prepare more people for careers in construction.
“Construction employment gains remain widespread, thanks to steady or increasing demand for data centers, manufacturing plants, energy and infrastructure projects,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But further job growth may be hindered by a lack of training programs for construction careers.”
Between July 2023 and July 2024, 39 states added construction jobs, while 11 states and D.C. shed jobs. Florida added the most construction employees (36,700 jobs or 5.8 percent), followed by Texas (33,100 jobs, 4.0 percent), California (16,500 jobs, 1.8 percent), Michigan (14,100 jobs, 7.4 percent), and Nevada (13,300 jobs, 11.9 percent). Alaska had the largest percentage gain over 12 months (19.9 percent, 3,400 jobs), followed by Hawaii (13.2 percent, 5,000 jobs), Nevada, Louisiana (7.5 percent, 9,600 jobs), and Michigan.
New York lost the most construction jobs during the past 12 months (-8,100 jobs or -2.1 percent), followed by Colorado (-4,200 jobs or -2.3 percent), Maryland (-4,000 jobs or -2.5 percent), Minnesota (-1,500 or -1.1 percent), and Maine (-1,400 jobs or -4.1 percent). The largest percentage loss was in Maine at -4.1%, followed by D.C., Maryland at -2.5%, Colorado at -2.3%, and New York at -2%.
For the month of July alone industry employment increased in 29 states and D.C., declined in 16 states and was unchanged in five states compared to June figures . Florida added the most monthly positions with an increase of +6 ,300 positions equating to +1% growth rate overall , followed closely behind Tennessee which saw an uptick amounting towards +5200 job additions translating into approximately around +3 point three percentage gain respectively alongside California seeing similar marginal rise standing close behind reporting additional creation equivalent nearly upto about+2700 newly filled vacancies representing around approximate quarter per cent increment ultimately resulting towards Ohio too showing slight improvement exhibiting almost another extra batch consisting somewhere near about plus twenty-three hundred recruitments thereby pushing up total tally roughly reaching upto nearly nine-tenth percentile mark eventually summing all together these top contributors among others alike .
On contrary side spectrum depicting downward trend during same timeframe period highlights significant reduction observed particularly across certain regions prominently featuring major losses incurred notably within boundaries encompassing primarily New York state registering steep decline witnessing drop down sharply plunging nearly minus thirty-eight hundred counts corresponding roughly negative single digit percentile falloff likewise neighbouring adjacent territories comprising parts like New Jersey similarly facing tough times experiencing comparable setbacks encountering deficit scaling downwardly close nearing minus seventeen hundred figures approximating negative single decimal fractional contraction proportionately whereas Missouri enduring somewhat lesser yet considerable shortfall still recording dropoff hovering somewhere nearby minus fifteen hundred range denoting again negatively impacted fractionally equivalent similarly Wisconsin also falling prey slightly suffering mild shrinkage settling downwards around thousand mark finally rounding off concluding Arkansas being worst hit amongst lot displaying maximum depletion touching lowest ebb hitting rock bottom plummeting deeply descending alarmingly low towards minus eight-hundred count translating highest decrement ratio measured precisely one point two per cent downturn marking lowest dip reported overall across board .
Association officials urged Congress to increase funding for career and technical education programs including those focused on construction training as part upcoming fiscal year twenty-twenty-five budgetary allocations specifically targeting departments dealing primarily Education Labor sectors pointing out current disparity existing between amounts allocated academic college oriented courses vis-a-vis vocational skill based curriculum highlighting need rectify imbalance ensuring adequate resources channelized preparing workforce meet burgeoning demands industry .
“The funding bills that Congress will be working on provide an opportunity help many more people prepare high-paying careers fields like construction,” Jeffrey D Shoaf association’s chief executive officer said adding further elaborating importance having sufficient number trained professionals avoid delays postponements potentially jeopardizing critical infrastructural developmental initiatives vital economic progress competitiveness nation whole .