Construction employment declined in the majority of states in July, with most Midwest states proving no exception to the trend, according to new data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America.
Illinois lost the most jobs of any state in the nation, some 9,800 in all, or a 5% decline over the same period last year. Missouri (-9500 jobs),Wisconsin (-6,900 jobs) and Michigan (-6,100 jobs) also logged substantial losses in July. Only Indiana registered significant year-over-year employment gains in the Midwest, adding 9,500 jobs to its ranks, the fifth largest gain in the nation as a percentage of total construction workforce.