Construction employment stagnant in Prov. metro in October

CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT was unchanged year over year in October in the Providence-Warwick metropolitan area, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. / COURTESY ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA
CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT was unchanged year over year in October in the Providence-Warwick metropolitan area, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. / COURTESY ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA

PROVIDENCE – The Providence-Warwick metropolitan area ranked 181st for flat construction employment over the year in October, according to the Associated General Contractors of America.
In the Providence metro, construction employment was stagnant at 22,000 in October compared with October 2014, the association said.
The association looked at 358 metro areas throughout the country, finding that construction employment increased in 180 areas, was unchanged in 46 others and declined in 132 in October compared with October 2014.
The Norwich-New London-Westerly, Conn.-R.I. metro area ranked 240th for its 2 percent year over year construction job drop. There, construction employment declined to 4,300, a loss of 100 jobs, the association said.
“Contractors are adding workers in many parts of the country again, which is consistent with the robust growth that is occurring in construction spending,” Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, said in a statement. “But job gains would be even more widespread if contractors could find enough qualified experienced craft workers and supervisors as well as new entrants to the industry.”

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. added the most construction jobs during the past year at 9,800, a 13 percent increase.

The largest percentage gain occurred in Weirton-Steubenville, W.Va.-Ohio at 56 percent, where 900 jobs were added.

The largest job loss over the year was recorded in Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas, where 6,000, or 8 percent, of jobs were lost. The largest percentage decline for the past year was 19 percent in Watertown-Fort Drum, N.Y., a loss of 400 jobs.

- Advertisement -

Association officials said communities need to offer career and technical education programs to encourage high school students to enter the construction trades.

“Too few schools offer programs to help students pursue high-paying careers in construction,” Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO, said. “More school systems need to recognize that construction offers rewarding opportunities for students who receive the right exposure and training.”

No posts to display