R.I. adds highest percentage of construction jobs in Feb. in U.S.

THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA said Rhode Island added the highest percentage of new construction jobs over the job in February. / COURTESY ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA
THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA said Rhode Island added the highest percentage of new construction jobs over the job in February. / COURTESY ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island added the highest percentage of new construction jobs over the past year in the nation in February at 12.2 percent, the Associated General Contractors of America said Friday.

The Ocean State had 20,200 construction jobs in February, compared with 18,000 in February 2016, the association said.

It said Rhode Island was among 43 states that added construction jobs over the year, according to its analysis of federal Labor Department data.

Despite the relatively widespread increase in construction employment, association officials said most states are still significantly below peak-construction employment levels.

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“A combination of solid demand and unseasonably mild weather added to construction employment in more states than usual in February,” Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association, said in a statement. “But conditions vary widely. Five states set new records for construction employment, while more than half the states are still at least 10 percent below their all-time highs.”

Florida added the most construction jobs (34,700 jobs, 7.5 percent) during the past year.

Other states adding a high number of new construction jobs for the past 12 months include California (16,500 jobs, 2.2 percent) and Texas (14,200 jobs, 2.0 percent).

After Rhode Island, Idaho (10.4 percent, 4,200 jobs) and Oregon (10 percent, 8,900 jobs) added the highest percentage of construction jobs.

Five states reached new highs for construction employment: Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, South Dakota and Texas.

Massachusetts’ construction employment totaled 150,200 in February.

Seven states and the District of Columbia shed construction jobs over the year, with Mississippi losing the highest number and percentage of construction jobs at 4,000 jobs and 8.7 percent.

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