Prov. metro sees 6% year-over-year construction job growth in April

THE PROVIDENCE-WARWICK-Fall River metropolitan area ranked 91st among 358 metro areas nationwide for its 6 percent construction job growth over the year in April, the Associated General Contractors of America said. / COURTESY ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA
THE PROVIDENCE-WARWICK-Fall River metropolitan area ranked 91st among 358 metro areas nationwide for its 6 percent construction job growth over the year in April, the Associated General Contractors of America said. / COURTESY ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA

PROVIDENCE – The Providence-Warwick-Fall River metropolitan area ranked 91st among 358 metro areas nationwide for its 6 percent construction job growth over the year in April, the Associated General Contractors of America said Wednesday.
Construction employment rose to 21,700 in April from 20,500 in April 2015, an increase of 1,200 workers.
The Norwich-New London-Westerly metropolitan area ranked 118th, for its 5 percent construction worker growth over the year, to 4,100 from 3,900.
There were construction employment gains in the past year in 235 out of 358 metro areas, losses in 67 areas, and no change in 56, the association said.

“Construction growth remains widely distributed by location and project type,” Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, said in a statement. “However, job gains were uneven: many states included metros with large gains but also areas that lost jobs. Some of those metros might have added construction jobs if contractors had been able to find enough qualified workers. The dearth of skilled construction workers in many areas threatens to hold down the extent of job gains in the coming months.”

Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, Calif., added the most construction jobs (14,900 jobs, 17 percent). The largest percentage gain occurred in Monroe, Mich. (30 percent, 700 jobs).

The largest job loss over the year was in Midland, Texas (-2,200 jobs, -8 percent). The largest percentage decline was in Bloomington, Ill. (-31 percent, -1,100 jobs).

- Advertisement -

Construction spending increased 4.5 percent over the year, Simonson noted. Private residential spending increased 8 percent over the year; private nonresidential spending climbed 3.4 percent; and public construction spending rose 1.2 percent, the association said.

“While few cities have returned to their prior peak levels, construction head counts continue to climb in most areas,” Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO, said. “Federal, state and local officials should focus on enacting measures to recruit and prepare future workers and improve aging airports, water systems and other public infrastructure.”

No posts to display