Employment
among construction workers increased in 30 states during January and February, and
19 states added construction jobs, the Associated General Contractors of America
reported.
While
the Labor Department data was good news, the association warned that it was too
soon to say whether this was a seasonal trend or the start of a sustained
recovery.
“These are certainly some of the best state-by-state
numbers the industry has seen in quite some time,” said Ken Simonson, the
association’s chief economist. “But it is too early to tell whether this is the
start of a positive trend or the rebound that comes with a February thaw.”
The AGC said Washington, D.C., had the largest one-month
percentage increase in employment (5.8 percent, 600 jobs), followed by
Connecticut (4.2 percent, 2,100 jobs); Georgia (3.7 percent, 5,000 jobs); and
Oregon (2.9 percent, 2,000 jobs). California (15,500 jobs, 2.7 percent) added
the most construction jobs between January and February, followed by Georgia;
North Carolina (4,500 jobs, 2.7 percent); and Florida (4,400 jobs, 1.3 percent).
Simonson added that 18 states lost construction jobs
in the first two months of 2011 while employment was unchanged in three states.
