R.I. 31st in nation for yearly construction job growth in Oct.

PICTURED IS the new Academic Innovation Center at Bryant University. Rhode Island ranked 31st in the nation for its 0.6 percent construction job growth over the year in October, the Associated General Contractors of America said Friday. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
PICTURED IS the new Academic Innovation Center at Bryant University. Rhode Island ranked 31st in the nation for its 0.6 percent construction job growth over the year in October, the Associated General Contractors of America said Friday. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island ranked 31st in the nation for its 0.6 percent construction job growth over the year in October, the Associated General Contractors of America said Friday.

The Ocean State had 17,300 construction jobs in October compared with 17,200 in October 2015. When comparing September and October, Rhode Island rose to 17th in national rankings for its 100-job gain and 0.6 percent increase.

Rhode Island was among 23 states and the District of Columbia that added construction jobs between September and October and among 35 states that gained construction jobs over the year, according to the analysis of U.S. Labor Department data released by the association.

California added the most construction jobs, 34,100 jobs, over the year in October. Iowa added the highest percentage of new construction jobs over the year at 13.2 percent. Massachusetts ranked seventh in the U.S. for its 7.3 percent construction job growth over the year, to 149,600 from 139,400.

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Illinois lost the highest number of construction jobs at 5,500 jobs. Kansas had the highest percentage loss at 7.6 percent.

Association officials urged President-elect Donald J. Trump and the incoming Congress to act quickly to pass a multiyear infrastructure program.
“The new administration has a unique opportunity to put more people to work in high-paying construction jobs and rebuild the public infrastructure that is critical to our continued economic vitality,” Stephen E. Sandherr, CEO for the association, said in a statement.

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