Construction Employment Increased in 28 States in 2011
Construction employment rose in 28 states and the District of Columbia between December 2010 and December 2011, the largest number of states with year-over-year employment gains since November 2007, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data.
In contrast, 24 states plus D.C. lost jobs between November and December 2011 while 23 states added construction jobs for the month. “It is encouraging that a clear majority of states added jobs during 2011, but it is too early to conclude that the industry is on a steady upswing,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Public construction is likely to shrink in 2012, and there are many uncertainties about home building, office and retail construction.”