Metro area gains construction jobs for February

ARLINGTON, Va. – Construction employment in the Providence-Fall River-Warwick metro area increased 2 percent between February 2013 and February 2014, according to the Associated General Contractors of America monthly jobs report released Wednesday.

The region gained 300 jobs in the industry for a total of 17,300 in February, according to the trade group, ranking the metro area at No. 145 or roughly in the middle of the pack in terms of year-over-year net employment gain.

Altogether, 175 of the 339 metro areas nationwide registered an increase in construction jobs year over year in February, while 106 metros showed declines and 58 showed no change in employment.

“It is encouraging that contractors added workers in so many locations despite severe weather that delayed some project starts,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “At the same time, it’s clear that the upturn in construction is far from universal. Activity is flat or declining in many metro areas, while contractors in the hottest locations are having trouble finding skilled workers.”

- Advertisement -

The largest percentage gains were posted in Monroe, Mich., with 65 percent growth and a gain of 1,300 jobs, followed by El Centro, Calif., with 32 percent growth and 700 jobs, and Reno-Sparks, Nev., with 31 percent and 600 jobs. The largest declines occurred in Gary, Ind., which dropped 25 percent and lost 4,700 jobs; and in Elkhart-Goshen, Ind. and Hanford-Corcoran, Calif., which each saw a decline of 13 percent.

The New Bedford metro area saw a 10 percent gain year over year, adding 200 construction jobs for a total of 2,200 in February 2014. New Bedford ranked at No. 29 among the nation’s metros for construction employment growth.

No posts to display