Construction Employment Rises in 39 States Over Last 12 Months

Words: Dan Kamys

According to analysis of Labor Department data released by the Associated General Contractors of America, 39 states added construction jobs between July 2015 and July 2016, while construction employment increased in only 23 states and the District of Columbia between June and July . Association officials said construction employment likely declined in many states as firms have growing difficulty locating qualified workers to hire.

California added the most construction jobs (29,100 jobs, 4.0%) between July 2015 and July 2016. Other states adding a high number of new construction jobs for the past 12 months include Florida, Colorado and Iowa. Iowa added the highest percentage of new construction jobs during the past year, followed by Hawaii (12.9%, 4,500 jobs), Idaho and Colorado. Kansas lost the highest number of construction jobs (-4,400 jobs, -7.3%) for the year. Other states that lost jobs for the year include North Dakota, Alabama, Kentucky, Wyoming and Maine. Construction employment was unchanged for the year in the District of Columbia. Texas added the most construction jobs between June and July (7,800 jobs, 1.1%). Other states adding a high number of construction jobs for the month include Pennsylvania, Florida, Tennessee and Colorado. Idaho added the highest percentage of construction jobs during the past month (4.6%, 1,900 jobs), followed by New Hampshire, Arkansas and Mississippi. Construction employment declined in 27 states during the past month and held steady in Alaska.  Ohio shed more construction jobs than any other state (-3,600 jobs, -1.7%), followed by New Jersey, New York, Illinois and Louisiana. Delaware lost the highest percentage of construction jobs between June and July (-2.3%, -500 jobs), followed by New Jersey, Kentucky and Wyoming. For complete details and the full analysis, visit www.acg.org.  
The Thirty-Year Mason: Ergonomics as a Retention Strategy
June 2026

In most industry circles, the conversation around the labor shortage follows a predictable script: How do we find the next generation of masons? While recruitment is vital, we often overlook the most valuable asset already on the job site: the experienced

Shayne Sanders
MAP Partner
Read More
Acme Brick Company Releases 2026 Pocket Guide to Brick Construction
June 2026

For more than four decades, all the basics of building with brick have come in a guide small enough to fit into a pocket. Acme Brick has just released a 2026 version of its Pocket Guide to Brick Construction. And yes, it’s still printed on paper just like

MAP Partner
Read More
Masonry in the Media: Casa Azul, Chapultepec Castle, & More
June 2026

A film’s settings can take viewers to new locations, all from the comfort of their own home. It immerses them in the scenes, whether they take place in an opera house in Brazil or a grand mansion in Mexico City. Explore how these Latin American masonry ma

Lily Burger
Masonry in the Media
Read More
Chairman’s Message: When Things Don’t Go as Planned
June 2026

Not every day in this business goes the way we planned. Some days, everything lines up. The crew is moving well. Materials are on time. The job is flowing the way you hoped it would. And then there are the other days. The ones where something breaks. T

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More