Construction Job Growth Expected into 2013

Texas added the most construction jobs and Nebraska added the highest percentage year-over-year in 2012, while Rhode Island reported the largest annual and monthly decline.

Construction employment expanded in 33 states and Washington D.C. in December, as the industry showed signs of emerging from a six-year slump.

For 2012 as a whole, 24 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs, 24 shed workers and two "?u Vermont and West Virginia "?u had no change, according to a report from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Nebraska added the highest percentage of new construction jobs for the year, followed by D.C., Texas, Hawaii and Washington. Texas added the most new jobs, followed by California, Washington and Arizona.

"These results show that contractors are finding work in more parts of the country than they have for many months," said Ken Simonson, the group's chief economist. "Further gains appear likely, but could be derailed if lawmakers do not keep debt markets operating normally."

Thirty-one percent of construction firms responding to a recent survey told the AGC they plan to add new workers in 2013, compared to only nine percent planning to make layoffs.

Rhode Island lost the highest percentage of construction jobs during the past year, followed by Delaware, Mississippi and Arkansas. Illinois lost the most jobs, followed by Pennsylvania and Florida.

"Construction spending has been rising for two full years, but contractors have been cautious about adding workers until they knew the upturn would last," Simonson said. "In 2013, both residential and private nonresidential construction should rise enough to offset a further slowdown in public work, and contractors will be looking for more workers."