R.I. construction employment falls

PROVIDENCE – Construction employment in Rhode Island dropped 10 percent in May compared with the same month last year, the Associated General Contractors of America said last week.
The trade association said the industry employed 14,400 people in May, down from 16,000 as seen in May 2010. The falloff represented the second sharpest percentage drop in the nation, behind only Nevada, where employment plunged 10.8 percent.
Rhode Island and Nevada were just two of 28 states to see construction employment in May fall compared with the same month last year, contractors said.
“It’s not surprising to see close to an even split between states adding and losing jobs given that year over year construction employment for May was unchanged,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “There just isn’t enough demand for new construction to drive nationwide boosts in construction employment.”
Rhode Island construction employment in April slid by 600 people – or 4 percent – when compared with March, the contractors added.
The Ocean State joined 27 other states in seeing a fall from April to May. Another 23 states saw increases while employment in Washington D.C. remained unchanged.