Construction jobs on the rise in Providence metro

THE PROVIDENCE-FALL RIVER-WARWICK metro area saw construction jobs go from 20,300 to 20,800 in the 12 months ended Aug. 31, a gain of 2 percent.   / BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO/SAM HODGSON
THE PROVIDENCE-FALL RIVER-WARWICK metro area saw construction jobs go from 20,300 to 20,800 in the 12 months ended Aug. 31, a gain of 2 percent. / BLOOMBERG FILE PHOTO/SAM HODGSON

WASHINGTON – Construction employment rose in 130 out of 337 metro areas, including the Providence-Fall River-Warwick area, dropped in 164 out of 337 metro areas, including New Bedford metro area, and stayed stagnant in 43 metro areas from August 2011 and August 2012, according to a report from the Associated General Contractors of America.

The Providence-Fall River-Warwick area gained 500 construction jobs during the year, a year-over-year gain of 2 percent, to 20,800 jobs in the metro area in August.

The New Bedford metro area lost 100 construction, mining and logging positions during the year, dropping the number of jobs 4 percent from 2,300 in August 2011 to 2,200 in August 2012.
According to association officials, construction employment declined in many areas as government or business officials delayed projects in the face of federal tax and funding uncertainty.
“Even more construction workers are at risk of losing their jobs because our elected officials in Washington aren’t doing theirs,” Stephen E. Sandherr, the Association’s CEO, said in a statement. “Setting tax rates and prioritizing federal investments may not be easy, but it ought to be far more preferable than letting our economy languish from uncertainty and inaction.”
Statewide, Rhode Island increased its construction agency by 1,300 jobs, or 8 percent year over year, in August. The Ocean State’s construction jobs increased from 16,500 in August 2011 to 17,800 in August 2012.
Statewide, Massachusetts lost 4 percent of its construction jobs over the year, dropping from 117,000 jobs in August 2011 to 112,600 in August 2012.

For the full Associated General Contractors of America report, visit www.agc.org.

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