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S.C. continues to lose construction jobs

Staff Report //July 23, 2018//

S.C. continues to lose construction jobs

Staff Report //July 23, 2018//

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South Carolina lost 1,600 construction jobs from May to June, according to the latest report from the Associated General Contractors of America.

California lost the most jobs with 2,900, while West Virginia lost the highest percentage of jobs for the month at 2.1%. South Carolina had the second-highest percentage loss at 1.6%.

South Carolina lost 4,000 jobs compared with June 2017. The 3.9% job loss is the highest in the country. In August 2017, an estimated 5,400 people lost their jobs when construction on twin nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer nuclear power station in Fairfield County was abandoned.

Nationally, 32 states and District of Columbia added construction jobs between May and June, while 43 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between June 2017 and June 2018.

Thirteen states lost construction jobs from May to June (.pdf), while just six lost jobs between June 2017 and June 2018.

“Construction is proving to be a reliable source of employment growth in nearly every state, and contractors are eager to hire even more workers,” said Associated General Contractors of America chief economist Ken Simonson. “But finding qualified workers remains a significant challenge as other industries compete for talent, more workers reach retirement age and fewer young adults chose to pursue careers in construction.”

North Dakota had the largest one-month percentage gain, adding 900 jobs for a 3.7% increase. Arizona had the highest percentage increase during the past year, with 10.2% or 14,800 more jobs.

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