PROVIDENCE – April Rhode Island construction employment increased by 1,900 jobs year over year, a 10.86 percent increase, according to a report from the Associated General Contractors of America on Wednesday.
The Providence–Warwick New England cities and towns metropolitan area accounted for much of the growth, tied for No. 21 in the nation for percent increase in construction employment. The region increased construction employment by 2,300 jobs, a 10.41 percent increase year over year.
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Statewide, Rhode Island mining and logging employment did not change since last April.
“Construction employment continues to expand in the majority of the nation’s metro areas,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, in the press release. “Many firms are adding new employees as they work to keep pace with demand for new private-sector projects.”
The report said that construction employment increased in 217 out of 358 metro areas between April 2016 and April 2017.
The release noted that the AGCA recommends the government, specifically Congress, devise a plan to reinvest into infrastructure. “Private-sector demand will suffer if employers are forced to spend more to cope with congested roads, aging bridges and inefficient water systems,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, CEO of the AGCA, in a statement on Wednesday. “Congress needs to find a reliable and long-term way to pay for future upgrades before aging infrastructure undermines future growth prospects.”
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor.
