It’s been feast or famine for regional construction employment, with job figures reaching record highs in Oklahoma and Texas while Louisiana experiences the largest jobs decline of any U.S. state, according to data from the Associated General Contractors of America.
From October 2018 to October 2019, Louisiana lost 9,700 jobs (down 6.4%). Conversely, Texas added 51,400 jobs during that period (up 6.9%), with October being a record month for the state. Oklahoma added 2,000 jobs (up 3%), and employment peaked at an all-time record of 85,900 jobs in July. Job growth also took place during that period in Arkansas, which added 3,800 jobs (up 7.6%), and Mississippi, which added 1,200 jobs (up 2.8%).