Regional data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveal that states in the West and Southeast are experiencing relatively faster growth rates for construction employment.
Regional employment data for August from the BLS and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) analysis indicates that the states with the largest gains in year-over-year construction employment, in percentage terms, were:
- Arkansas (13.6%)
- Idaho (10%)
- South Carolina (9.1%)
- Iowa (8.9%)
- Kansas (8.1%)
- Washington (8%)
Thirty-six states plus the District of Columbia experienced year-over-year gains in construction employment as of August.
Half of states reported a monthly gain in construction employment in August, with Iowa leading with the largest month-over-month increase (2.6%).
Regional employment effects are important for determining housing demand. And according to the BLS data, all but three states recorded year-over-year gains in payroll employment, with the exceptions being West Virginia, North Dakota and Alaska as the energy extraction boom loses steam. The largest year-over-year employment gains were witnessed in Utah (4%), Oregon (3.5%), Florida (3.3%), Nevada (3.3%) and Washington (3.2%).
