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South Carolina adds 1,800 construction jobs in month

Staff Report //September 23, 2019//

South Carolina adds 1,800 construction jobs in month

Staff Report //September 23, 2019//

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South Carolina added 1,800 construction jobs between July and August, joining 29 states which saw industry increases in the month.

South Carolina’s 1.8% increase was third-highest percentage jump in the nation, according to an analysis (.pdf) of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

The Palmetto State has added 300 jobs, an increase of 0.3% that is 24th-best in the country, from August 2018 to August 2019. Thirty-nine states have added construction jobs for the year.

“Even more states probably would have posted gains in construction employment if firms could find enough people to hire,” Ken Simonson, AGC chief economist, said in a news release. “They are finding most craft positions hard to fill, even though average pay in construction is higher than the all-industry average in nearly every state.”

Florida added the most construction jobs for the month at 4,100, or 0.7%, followed by New York (3,000, 0.7%) and Nevada (2,400, 2.5%). Nevada had the highest percentage increase, followed by Missouri (1.9%, 2,300 jobs) and South Carolina.

Texas added the most industry jobs for the year at 43,900, or 5.9%. California added 34,400 (4%) and Florida 20,900 (3.8%). North Dakota’s increase of 12.1% led the nation, followed by Nevada (11.7%) and Arizona (9.7%).

Construction employment decreased in 21 states from July to August, with Tennessee losing the most jobs at 1,900, or minus-1.5%. Wyoming saw the largest percentage decline at minus-3.1%.

For the year, 10 states lost construction jobs, led by 10,100 lost jobs in Louisiana. That state also led the nation in percentage job loss at minus-6.6% for the 12-month period.

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