Regional construction employment rises

PROVIDENCE – Construction employment in the Providence metropolitan area rose 5 percent in March compared with the same month last year, the Associated General Contractors of America said.
The association said the industry employed 17,700 people in the metro area, which includes New Bedford and Warwick. That was up from 16,800 people a year ago.
The metro area was one of 138 of 337 studied areas that gained employment, the contractors said. Employment decreased in 153 areas and remained unchanged in another 46.
“Even with more metro areas adding jobs than in any 12-month period since November 2007, the fact is most areas are far below previous construction employment peaks,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “With federal stimulus, base realignment and Gulf Coast hurricane-protection projects slated to end soon, many areas are at serious risk of another downturn in construction employment.”
The association said that private nonresidential and multifamily construction appears to be stabilizing or picking up in most markets, but that the gains are likely to be offset by pending drops in public construction.