R.I. 36th in nation for construction job decline in December

HERE IS THE NEW National Grid substation under construction at 342 Eddy St. in Providence. Rhode Island ranked 36th in the nation for its 1.1 percent construction job loss over the year in December, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
HERE IS THE NEW National Grid substation under construction at 342 Eddy St. in Providence. Rhode Island ranked 36th in the nation for its 1.1 percent construction job loss over the year in December, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island ranked 36th in the nation for its 1.1 percent construction job loss over the year in December. That’s according to data released Tuesday by the Associated General Contractors of America.

The AGC says Rhode Island had 18,200 construction jobs in December, compared with 18,400 in December 2015.

Nevada ranked first in the nation, for its 15.3 percent increase in construction jobs over the year. The state had 83,000 construction jobs in December, compared with 72,000 in December 2015.

Alabama and North Dakota each saw decreases of 7.4 percent and tied for last place. Alabama had 75,800 construction jobs in December, compared with 81,900 in December 2015. North Dakota had 29,900 construction jobs in December, compared with 32,300 in December 2015.

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AGC economist Ken Simonson says fewer states reported construction job increases in 2016 than in 2015. He said 32 states reported increases in 2016, compared to 44 states in 2015.

Simonson says an AGC survey found that contractors are concerned about a shortage of experienced workers, and many are “having a hard time filling positions.”

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