Construction Employment Increases In 37 States

According to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America, construction employment went up in 37 states in January from the previous year, while 33 states added construction jobs between December and January. Association officials noted that demand for construction remains high in several parts of the country, but cautioned that labor shortages are preventing employment increases in the sector.

“This report confirms that construction demand remains robust in most states, especially for data centers, manufacturing, and power projects,” said the association’s chief economist Ken Simonson. “But contractors are scrambling to find qualified workers, which is keeping more states from posting employment increases.”

States that added the most jobs (Jan. 2023 – Jan. 2024)

1. California added 44,600 jobs (5 percent)
2. Florida added 27,200 jobs (4.4 percent)
3. Texas added 24,500 jobs (3.0 percent)
4. Arizona added 12,900 jobs (6.3 percent)
5. North Carolina added 8,800 jobs (3.4 percent)

States with the largest percentage of jobs created (Jan. 2023 – Jan. 2024)

1. South Dakota, 11.3 percent (3,100 jobs)
2. Arkansas 10.5 percent (6,400 jobs)
3. Alaska 9.6 percent (1,600 jobs)
4. Nevada 7.7 percent (8,500 jobs)
5. Wyoming 7.4 percent (1,600 jobs)

States that lost the most jobs (Jan. 2023 – Jan. 2024)

1. New York lost 12,000 jobs (-3 percent)
2. Washington lost 8,000 jobs (-3.4 percent)
3. Pennsylvania lost 7,200 jobs (-2.7 percent)
4. Illinois lost 6,700 jobs (-2.9 percent)
5. Maryland lost 5,900 jobs (-3.6 percent)

States with the largest percentage of jobs lost (Jan. 2023 – Jan. 2024)

1. Maryland, -3.6 percent (-5,900 jobs)
2. Washington, -3.4 percent (-8,000 jobs)
3. North Dakota, -3.2 percent (-900 jobs)
4. New York, -3 percent (12,000 jobs)
5. Illinois, -2.9 percent (6,700 jobs)

States that added the most jobs (Dec. 2023 – Jan. 2024)

1. North Carolina added 4,000 jobs (1.5 percent)
2. Indiana added 2,700 jobs (1.6 percent)
3. Louisiana added 2,400 jobs (1.8 percent)
4. New Jersey added 2,400 jobs (1.4 percent)
5. Florida added 2,300 jobs (0.4 percent)

States with the largest percentage of jobs created (Dec. 2023 – Jan. 2024)

1. Arkansas, 2.3 percent (1,500 jobs)
2. Mississippi 2.3 percent (1,800 jobs)
3. Hawaii 2.3 percent (1,500 jobs)
4. Wyoming 2.2 percent (500 jobs)
5. Maine 2.1 percent (500 jobs)

States that lost the most jobs (Dec. 2023 – Jan. 2024)

1. Illinois lost 5,300 jobs (-2.3 percent)
2. Maryland lost 1,700 jobs (-1.1 percent)
3. Pennsylvania lost 1,700 jobs (-0.7 percent)
4. Washington lost 1,500 jobs (-0.7 percent)
5. Ohio lost 1,500 jobs (-0.6 percent)

States with the largest percentage of jobs lost (Dec. 2023 – Jan. 2024)

1. Illinois, -2.3 percent (-5,300 jobs)
2. North Dakota, -1.5 percent (-400 jobs)
3. Maryland, -1.1 percent (-5,900 jobs)
4. Kansas, -0.9 percent (600 jobs)
5. New Mexico, -0.9 percent (500 jobs)