Prov.-Warwick metro loses 500 construction jobs in April

BACON CONSTRUCTION is building a new 134,600 square-foot science academic building at the University of Rhode Island. 
The Providence-Warwick metropolitan area ranked 306th out of 358 metropolitan areas for losing 500 construction jobs in April, according to the Associated General Contractors of America.  / PBN FILE PHOTO/ MICHAEL SALERNO
BACON CONSTRUCTION is building a new 134,600 square-foot science academic building at the University of Rhode Island. The Providence-Warwick metropolitan area ranked 306th out of 358 metropolitan areas for losing 500 construction jobs in April, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. / PBN FILE PHOTO/ MICHAEL SALERNO

PROVIDENCE – The Providence-Warwick metropolitan area ranked 306th out of 358 metropolitan areas for losing 500 construction jobs in April, according to the Associated General Contractors of America.
Construction jobs numbered 19,500, a decline of 500 jobs, or 3 percent, from April 2014’s 20,000 jobs.
The Providence-Warwick metro area was one of 66 metros that experienced drops in construction employment in April. In 232 other metro areas, construction employment expanded, and in 60 others, it was stagnant, according to the association’s analysis of federal employment data.
“Demand, particularly from private sector clients, has rebounded enough that many firms have been steadily expanding their headcount during the past 12 months,” Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, said in a statement. “But construction employment is still below prior peak levels in most areas, as firms worry about the fate of federal transportation funding.”
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash., added the largest number of construction jobs in the past year (12,600 jobs, 17 percent), followed by Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colo. (10,800 jobs, 12 percent) and Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, Calif. (7,800 jobs, 10 percent).
The largest percentage gains occurred in Wenatchee, Wash. (32 percent, 600 jobs), Atlantic City-Hammonton, N.J. (24 percent, 1,100 jobs) and Visalia-Porterville, Calif. (21 percent, 900 jobs).
The largest year-over-year job losses were in New Orleans-Metairie, La. (-3,300 jobs, -10 percent), followed by Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Miss. (-1,800 jobs, -18 percent) and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Ore.-Wash. (-1,400 jobs, -3 percent). The largest percentage decline for the past year was in Weirton-Steubenville, W.Va.-Ohio (-29 percent, -600 jobs) followed by Santa Fe, N.M. (-19 percent, -500 jobs) and Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Miss. and El Centro, Calif. (-17 percent, -500 jobs each).
Construction employment data can be viewed here.

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