Construction jobs rise 7% over August 2013

The Charlotte metropolitan statistical area added 2,800 construction jobs between August 2013 and August 2014, according to data released by the Associated General Contractors of America, for a 7 percent annual increase.

The region ranked 68^th among 339 in the percentage change in the number of construction jobs.

Lake Charles, La., and Monroe, Mich., where construction jobs increased by 27 percent, tied for first in the rankings. The Steubenville, Ohio-Weirton, W.Va. area ranked last, losing 17 percent of its construction jobs over the year.

The ranks are based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Construction employment grew in 220 metropolitan areas, declined in 73 and stayed the same in 46.

Construction spending nationally increased to $961 billion in August from $915.3 billion in August 2013, a 5 percent increase. However, spending declined by 0.8 percent between July and August, dropping in all categories: private residential and nonresidential, and public education facilities and highway construction.

“Even as construction employment continues to rebound in many parts of the country, other areas continue to lose ground, or like Phoenix, backslide,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, in a statement accompanying the report. “Similarly, while construction spending has been increasing overall in the past year, the gains remain uneven. The industry appears likely to experience very mixed results by segment and region for the rest of 2014 and into next year.”