Report: State gains construction jobs

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South Carolina gained 1,500 construction jobs from June to July, according to the latest report from the Associated General Contractors of America.

Texas had the largest one-month job gain with 10,500 jobs, while New Mexico and New Hampshire showed the highest percentage gain at 2.1%. South Carolina ranked fifth with a 1.5% gain.

Despite the gain, South Carolina was one of five states to lose construction jobs from July 2017 to July 2018. The state lost 2,300 jobs over the last year. 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. The 2.3% year over year job loss is the second-highest in the country behind New Jersey’s 3.9%.

Nationally, 29 states and District of Columbia added construction jobs between June and July, while 45 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between July 2017 and July 2018.

Seventeen states lost construction jobs from May to June (.pdf).

“Contractors stand ready to help prepare more workers for rewarding construction careers,” Stephen E. Sandherr, Associated General Contractors of America CEO, said in a release. “School districts, community colleges and other agencies need to do their part to inform and prepare students and young adults to pursue high-paying careers in the field.”