PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island construction employment saw the third-highest year-over-year growth in the nation in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Associated General Contractors of America on Friday.
Construction employment in the Ocean State rose 12.7 percent to 20,400 from July 2016 levels. The year-over-year percentage increase was the largest in the New England region, followed by New Hampshire, where construction employment rose 11.8 percent year over year.
Despite the large year-over-year gain, construction employment in the Ocean State did not change from June to July, placing the state 26th in the nation for increase.
The AGCA report noted that while 36 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between July 2016 and July 2017, only half the states added construction jobs between June and July. This was attributed to “declining public-sector investments in infrastructure and other construction projects.”
Oregon experienced the largest year-over-year increase of construction employment in July, climbing 13.2 percent. California experienced the largest yea-over-year nominal increase, with an uptick of 51,000 construction jobs in July.
Year-over-year New England construction employment in July:
Rhode Island:
- National rank: No. 3; New England rank: No. 1
- Increase of 12.7 percent, a nominal increase of 2,300
New Hampshire:
- National rank: No. 4; New England rank: No. 2
- Increase of 11.8 percent, a nominal increase of 3,000
Maine:
- National rank: No. 6; New England Rank No. 3
- Increase of 9.3 percent, a nominal increase of 2,500
Massachusetts:
- National rank: No. 26; New England rank: No. 4
- Increase of 2.7 percent, a nominal increase of 3,900
Connecticut:
- National rank: No. 36; New England rank: No. 5
- Increase of 0.2 percent, a nominal increase of 100
Vermont:
- National Rank: No. 47: New England rank: No. 6
- Decrease of 3.3 percent, a nominal decrease of 500
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor.
