Construction employment grows 2% in December in Prov. metro

PROVIDENCE – Construction employment rose in 190 out of 358 metropolitan areas over the year in December, including in the Providence-Warwick metro area, which saw jobs climb 2 percent, the Associated General Contractors of America reported Tuesday.
Construction employment in the Providence metro grew by 500 jobs to 21,400, ranking it 153rd among the metro areas for percentage growth. Construction employment also increased in the Norwich-New London-Westerly metro area by 3 percent, or 100 jobs, to 4,100, ranking it 136th.
The association also said construction employment was unchanged in 63 metro areas and declined in 105 between December 2014 and December 2015.
“There were nearly twice as many metro areas adding construction jobs in 2015 as there were areas losing jobs,” Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, said in a statement. “Considering current economic trends and our members’ forecasts, many firms should continue hiring workers this year as demand expands.”
Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, Calif., added the most construction jobs during the past year at 10,500, a 13 percent increase. The largest percentage gain occurred in Weirton-Steubenville, W.Va.-Ohio with 60 percent, an increase of 900 jobs.
The largest job loss from December 2014 to December 2015 was in Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas, where 4,300 jobs were lost, a 6 percent decrease. The largest percentage decline for the past year was in Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula at 14 percent, a loss of 1,200 jobs.
“Most construction firms expect to continue expanding this year,” Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO, said. “The biggest challenge many firms are facing is finding enough workers to meet available demand.”

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