R.I. 17th in nation for year-over-year construction job growth in May

RHODE ISLAND RANKED 17th in the nation for its construction job growth over the year in May, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. / COURTESY ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA
RHODE ISLAND RANKED 17th in the nation for its construction job growth over the year in May, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. / COURTESY ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island ranked 17th in the nation in May for 4.8 percent year-over-year construction employment growth.
The Ocean State added 800 jobs in May, bringing construction employment to 17,600 from 16,800 in May 2015, according to the Associated General Contractors of America’s analysis of federal Labor Department data.
The association said Friday that Rhode Island was among 39 states that added construction jobs between May 2015 and May 2016.
California added the most construction jobs, 39,600, between May 2015 and May 2016. Hawaii added the highest percentage of new construction jobs during the past year at 19.7 percent.
North Dakota lost the highest percent and total number of construction jobs at 10.5 percent and 3,700.

Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association, said that overall, the construction market appears “robust,” and will remain so as long as most firms can find qualified workers.

From April to May, Rhode Island slipped to 41st place in the nation for its 1.7 percent loss in construction jobs, to 17,600 from 17,900. It was among 30 states and the District of Columbia that saw construction employment decline over the month.
New Jersey added the most construction jobs – 2,900 – between April and May; Oklahoma added the highest percentage of construction jobs during the past month at 2.2 percent.
Texas lost more construction jobs than any other state – 3,400. Vermont lost the highest percentage of construction jobs between April and May – 6.1 percent.

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