R.I. construction employment declines in June

RHODE ISLAND ranked 41st in the nation for its decline in construction employment over the year in June, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. / COURTESY ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA
RHODE ISLAND ranked 41st in the nation for its decline in construction employment over the year in June, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. / COURTESY ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA

PROVIDENCE – Construction employment fell 0.6 percent in Rhode Island in June, to 16,800 from 16,900 in June 2015, according to the Associated General Contractors of America.
Ranking state construction employment, Rhode Island was near the bottom in June, at 41st, for its percentage loss.
Hawaii ranked No. 1 for its 15.9 percent construction employment increase. Massachusetts also ranked seventh for its 8.1 percent gain. It was the only New England state in the top 10.
The other New England states ranked as follows: New Hampshire, 21st, for a 4.5 percent increase; Vermont, 28th, for a 2.6 percent gain; Connecticut, 37th, for a 0.7 percent increase; and Maine, 49th, for a 6.5 percent drop.
North Dakota was last on the list for its 12.4 percent decline over the year in construction employment. It also lost the highest number of jobs at 4,300. In comparison, California gained the most construction jobs over the year at 32,300.
The association said construction employment increased in 39 states over the year in June, according to its analysis of federal Labor Department data released Friday.
“Construction demand is still growing strongly in all regions and among many types of owners,” Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association, said in a statement. “But contractors appear to be struggling to fill jobs in the short run.”
From May to June, Rhode Island lost even more jobs, ranking it 49th for its 3.4 percent decrease, to 16,800 from 17,400. Over the month, Delaware’s 3.4 percent growth was the highest, while Maine’s 4.7 percent drop was the lowest.

No posts to display