Construction employment in November remained below pre-pandemic levels in 35 states and the District of Columbia even though 31 states and DC added construction jobs from October to November, according to Associated General Contractors of America analysis of government employment data. Association officials urged federal officials to swiftly renew a program to enable firms to keep workers on their payrolls while the pandemic is pushing back the start date for many projects.
Seasonally adjusted construction employment in November was lower than in February—the last month before the pandemic forced many contractors to suspend work—in 37 states, Simonson noted. New York lost the most construction jobs over the nine-month period (-39,700 jobs or -9.7 percent), followed by Texas (-37,200 jobs, -4.7 percent). Vermont experienced the largest percentage loss (-24.5 percent, -3,600 jobs), followed by North Dakota (-13.9 percent, -4,100 jobs).
Only 15 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs from February to November. Virginia added the most jobs and highest percentage (11,800 jobs, 5.8 percent), followed by Utah (5,800 jobs, 5.1 percent).
Construction employment decreased from October to November in 17 states, increased in 31 states and D.C., and was unchanged in Maine and Nebraska. California had the largest loss of construction jobs from October to November (-5,800 jobs or -0.7 percent), followed by New Jersey (-3,800 jobs, -2.5 percent) and Nevada (-3,700 jobs, -3.9 percent). Nevada had the largest percentage decline, followed by South Dakota (-3.8 percent, -1,000 jobs).
Texas added the most construction jobs over the month (7,500 jobs, 1.0 percent), followed by Pennsylvania (4,300 jobs, 1.7 percent). Delaware had the largest percentage gain for the month (3.8 percent, 800 jobs), followed by Utah (2.6 percent, 3,000 jobs).