Ill. Leads Nation in Construction Job Losses

Illinois logged more construction job losses in August than any state in the nation, according to new data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

In year-over-year comparisons, Illinois lost 11,500 jobs in August, representing a 5.9% dip in the state's construction employment rate. August also marked the second consecutive month Illinois led the nation in annual employment declines.

Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin also recorded substantial annual declines in construction employment in August. Indiana and Ohio, both beneficiaries of Detroit's resurgent auto industry, saw construction employment rise for the same period, with increases of 10,400 (8.7%) and 4,500 (2.6%) jobs, respectively.

In all, construction employment declined in 30 states between August 2011 and August 2011, while 26 states, including Illinois, recorded one-month losses from July.

“Construction employment continues to decline in many states as key tax and infrastructure decisions languish in Washington,” says AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson. “Thousands more construction workers could be employed today in states across the country if we had long-term federal tax and infrastructure programs in place.”

“Construction employment suffers when firms can't anticipate future demand or know how much they will have to pay in taxes,” adds AGC CEO Stephen E. Sandherr

Simonson notes that 20 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between August 2011 and August 2012. The District of Columbia added the highest percentage of new construction jobs (14.9%, 1,800 jobs), followed by North Dakota (11.8%, 2,900 jobs) and Nebraska (10.8%, 4,400 jobs).

Texas added the most new construction jobs over the past 12 months (37,900, 6.8%), followed by California (33,000, 6.0%) and Indiana.