New York State added 5,700 construction jobs between September and October of this year, according to a report from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), which studied data from the Department of Labor.
Nationwide, between October 2016 and October 2017, 41 states added construction jobs, while 26 states added construction jobs between September and October of this year. The numbers point to what the AGC called a pattern of “widespread but uneven” growth in industry employment.
The chief economist at the AGC cited the lack of qualified workers as the reason why more jobs weren’t added.
“Although construction employment has risen over the past year, many contractors report difficulty finding workers with the right skills,” said AGC chief economist Ken Simonson in a press release. “Last month, construction employment increased in only half the states, a total that would probably have been higher if workers were available.”
Among the 26 states that added construction jobs between September and October, Florida added the most with 23,800 jobs, followed by New York with 5,700 jobs, Georgia with 5,500 jobs, and Texas with 4,500 jobs. Florida also added the highest percentage of construction jobs, followed by Connecticut (3.9 percent, 2,200 jobs); Montana (3.4 percent, 900 jobs); West Virginia (3.3 percent, 1,000 jobs); and Georgia.
