Construction employment increases in 32 states in January

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Construction employment increased in 32 states in January 2020 compared to both December 2019 and January 2019, according to an analysis of U.S. Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Association officials said the data was collected before the novel coronavirus began to affect the economy and that construction employment is likely to decline beginning in March.

“The construction industry began 2020 with widespread employment gains, although fewer states had increases than in 2019,” Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, said in a news release. “Exceptionally mild winter weather in many states probably added to January construction employment totals.”

Texas added the most jobs between January 2019 and January 2020 at 34,900, an increase of 4.6%. Florida added 21,500 (3.9%) and California 17,400 (2%). Utah saw the highest percentage increase at 7.5% (8,000 jobs).

New York added the most construction jobs between December 2019 and January 2020 at 4,700 (1.2%), followed by Pennsylvania (4,400 jobs, 1.7%) and Florida (3,600 jobs, 0.6%). New Hampshire saw the highest month-to-month percentage increase at 3.5%.

South Carolina saw no change in construction jobs from December 2019 to January 2020, remaining at 109,200. For the 12-month period, the Palmetto State gained 2,800 construction jobs, an increase of 2.6%.

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia lost jobs in the 12-month period, led by Louisiana, which lost 15,200 jobs, or 10.1%. West Virginia lost the highest percentage of jobs at 13%.

From December 2019 to January 2020, construction employment dropped in 16 states, with Washington losing 3,500 jobs, a decrease of 1.6%.

View the state rankings here (.pdf).