R.I. adds 1,100 construction jobs in May compared with last year

ARLINGTON, Va. – Rhode Island added 1,100 construction jobs between May 2013 and May 2014, an increase of 6.8 percent that ranked the state 12th in the country for highest percentage of construction jobs gained year over year, the Associated General Contractors of America reported.

Massachusetts, which added 2,100 jobs, or 1.7 percent, compared with May of last year, ranked at No. 34. Construction jobs in the Bay State totaled 123,500 in May, the AGC reported, while the Rhode Island total was 17,200.

“With demand for construction growing in most states, many firms are slowly rebuilding their depleted payrolls,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, CEO of the AGC. “But if overall economic growth slows, construction employment could backslide in many states.”

On a year-over-year basis, 40 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs in May, while 10 states lost jobs. Nevada posted the largest percent increase, at 12.5 percent, followed by Florida (9.8 percent), Minnesota (9.7 percent) and Kansas (8.9 percent).

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On a monthly basis, between April and May, the AGC reported that construction employment increased in 30 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 19 states and held steady in Alaska. In Rhode Island, the industry’s month-over-month gain of 100 jobs represented an increase of six-tenths of a percent over April.

Massachusetts posted a gain of 900 construction jobs between April and May, an increase of seven-tenths of a percent.

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