Construction employment plummeted in Illinois between May and June, the state's 4,700 job losses the worst in the nation for the period, according to data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Ohio logged the third largest job losses – 3,700 – between May and June.
In all, 25 states logged job losses between May and June, an occurrence AGC chief economist describes as “troubling,” despite relatively positive year-over-year totals among states. Among the culprits: a lack of transportation funding for many state projects, Simonson says. “Investing in transportation infrastructure will make it easier for many firms involved in highway and transit construction to add new staff,” he adds.