Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

The loss of 3,100 construction jobs in Rhode Island in the last year is part of a national trend in which 48 states reported declines in construction jobs for the 12-month period that ended in August, according to a report Tuesday from Associated General Contractors of America.

Rhode Island's construction employment in August was 17,400, down 18 percent from August 2008.

Forty other states also reported double-digit construction job losses in the last year, according to an analysis of job figures by the trade association.

"I don't expect much improvement in construction employment until stimulus money flows more broadly, the federal-aid highway program is renewed, and home building gains momentum," said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association.

The five biggest percentage losses in construction employment over the year occurred in Arizona (27 percent, or 50,000 jobs), Nevada (25 percent, or 29,500 jobs), and three states with 22 percent losses: Connecticut (14,300 jobs), Kentucky (18,300 jobs) and Tennessee (28,300 jobs).

Construction employment expanded in two states compared to August 2008. North Dakota added 800 construction jobs for a 4 percent increase while Louisiana added 4,400 jobs for a 3 percent increase.

Overall, Rhode Island lost 19,200 jobs in the last year, according to a report from the Rhode Island Dept. of Labor and Training. The state's jobless rate was 12.8 percent in August, with 73,300 people out of work.

 Tags  Associated General Contractors of America construction

Comments

Storage Containers said:

Thanks for the article.Construction plays a vital role in economic development.Most of the workers depend upon construction.Due to recession most of the workers are affected.

Thanks,
Storage Containers,
www.boxtcontainers.com

Link | October 2, 2009 5:40 AM
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