RI construction employment slides

PROVIDENCE – Construction employment in Rhode Island dropped 2 percent in July compared with the same month last year, the Associated General Contractors of America said last week.
The trade association said the industry employed 15,600 people in July, down from 15,900 as seen in July 2010. The association said that 15 states experienced sharper drops in employment.
Across the United States, 26 states and the District of Columbia saw gains in construction employment. Twenty-three states saw drops in employment while Vermont employment remained unchanged.
“When it comes to construction employment, for every state adding jobs there is another one shedding just as many or more,” association CEO Stephen E. Sandherr said. “The fact that this industry is breaking even when it comes to construction employment is little comfort for many unemployed construction workers.”