US construction employment picks up

Half the states in the US saw construction employment increase in August, and year-on-year increases in employment were also seen according to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). The association said the number of states reporting an increase in construction jobs compared to a year ago rose to ten, from just six in July.

Commenting on the figures, AGC chief economist Ken Simonson said, "National construction employment has been flat since March and more areas have seen an upturn in employment, while job losses in the remaining states are less server than previously. But the gains may be fleeting unless Congress and the Administration enact long-term infrastructure funding bills before the current stimulus funds are exhausted."

The largest year-on-year gains in construction employment were seen in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Kansas, the District of Columbia and Arkansas. However, there were steep decreases in Nevada, Vermont, Idaho, and Colorado, and the US' most populous state, California, also saw a decline.

Month-on-month improvements were seen in Illinois, Rhode Island and Oklahoma, while the largest declines were seen in Alaska, New Mexico and Minnesota.