Prov.-Warwick metro lost 3% of construction jobs in September

THE PROVIDENCE-Warwick metropolitan area ranked 250th out of 358 metropolitan areas nationwide for losing 700 construction jobs in September, a 3 percent decrease compared with September 2014. / COURTESY ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA
THE PROVIDENCE-Warwick metropolitan area ranked 250th out of 358 metropolitan areas nationwide for losing 700 construction jobs in September, a 3 percent decrease compared with September 2014. / COURTESY ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA

PROVIDENCE – The Providence-Warwick metropolitan area ranked 250th out of 358 metropolitan areas nationwide for its 3 percent construction job loss in September compared with September 2014.
The Associated General Contractors of America reported that the Providence metro had 21,500 construction jobs in September compared with 22,200 a year ago.
The Norwich-New London metropolitan area in Connecticut, which also includes Westerly, ranked 231st on the list for its 2 percent job loss year over year. It had 4,100 construction jobs in September compared with 4,200 a year ago.
The Providence and New London metro areas were among 144 metro areas that saw construction employment decline year over year in September. Construction was stagnant in 55 other areas and increased in 159 metro areas, according to the association’s analysis of federal employment data.
“It appears that many of these job losses have more to do with a lack of workers than they do a lack of work,” Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO, said in a statement. “While some markets are seeing a softening in demand, overall construction spending continues to rise while the sector’s unemployment rate continues to fall.”
“The sad fact is our educational system is doing a great job of preparing students for jobs that don’t exist and a lousy job getting them prepared for high paying jobs like construction that do exist,” Sandherr said. “Until we have an educational and training system that is aligned to economic reality, construction projects are likely to cost more and take longer to complete.”

The largest job loss year over year was in Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas with 6,200. Las Cruces, N.M. and Lawrence-Methuen Town-Salem, Mass.-N.H. had the largest percentage declines at 17 percent.

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. added the most construction jobs during the past year with 8,200 jobs. The largest percentage gain occurred in Weirton-Steubenville, W.Va.-Ohio at 33 percent.

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