Construction Jobs Grow in January

Employment in the construction industry increased in 34 states and Washington, D.C., between December and January, according to the latest analysis of industry jobs data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Steady growth in the housing market and less uncertainty in federal spending policies are creating a more positive outlook for future building.

Construction employment expanded in two-thirds of all states in January, a potential sign of recovery following the industry's six-year slump, according to the Associated General Contractors of America's (AGC) reading of Labor Department data.

"These results show that contractors are finding work in more parts of the country than they have for many months," said Ken Simonson, the AGC's chief economist. Simonson added that 34 states and D.C. added construction jobs between December and January, while employment slipped in 14 states and held steady in two states. "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," he said.

New York added the most jobs between December and January – most likely reflecting recovery work from Hurricane Sandy – followed by California, Michigan and Maryland.

From January 2012 to January 2013, 24 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs, 25 shed workers and one – Wisconsin – had no change. Texas added the most new construction jobs over the past 12 months, followed by California and Washington. Illinois led among states losing construction jobs during the past year, followed by Virginia, Ohio and Arkansas.

View the state employment data by rank and by state.