Construction employment increased in 39 states in July 2024 compared to a year earlier, while 29 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between June and July 2024, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

Association officials noted that demand for projects — and the workers to execute them — remains robust in most states but there is a pressing need to prepare more people for careers in construction.

“Construction employment gains remain widespread, thanks to steady or increasing demand for data centers, manufacturing plants, energy, and infrastructure projects,” said Ken Simonson, Chief Economist for AGC. “But further job growth may be hindered by a lack of training programs for construction careers.”

Between July 2023 and July 2024, the most construction employees were added in:

• Florida (36,700 jobs or 5.8 percent)
• Texas (33,100 jobs or 4.0 percent)
• California (16,500 jobs or 1.8 percent)
• Michigan (14,100 jobs or 7.4 percent)
• Nevada (13,300 jobs or 11.9 percent)

Alaska had the largest percentage gain over 12 months (19.9 percent or 3,400 jobs), followed by Hawaii (13.2 percent or 5,000 jobs), Nevada, Louisiana (7.5 percent or 9,600 jobs), and Michigan.

From June to July 2024, industry employment increased in 29 states and the District of Columbia, declined in 16 states, and was unchanged in five states. For the month, the most construction jobs were added in:

• Florida (6,300 jobs or 1.0 percent)
• Tennessee (5,200 jobs or 3.3 percent)
• California (2,700 jobs or 0.3 percent)
• Ohio (2,300 jobs or 0.9 percent)

Tennessee had the largest percentage gain, followed by North Dakota (2.5 percent or 700 jobs) and Hawaii (1.9 percent or 800 jobs).

Over the past 12 months, 11 states and the District of Columbia shed construction jobs. The largest losses between July 2023 and July 2024 were in:

• New York (down 8,100 jobs or 2.1 percent)
• Colorado (down 4,200 jobs or 2.3 percent)
• Maryland (down 4,000 jobs or 2.5 percent)
• Minnesota (down 1,500 jobs or 1.1 percent)
• Maine (down 1,400 jobs or 4.1 percent)

The largest percentage loss was in Maine, followed by the District of Columbia (down 4.0 percent or 600 jobs), Maryland, Colorado, and New York.

For the month from June to July 2024, the states that lost the most construction jobs are:

• New York (down 3,800 jobs or 1.0 percent)
• New Jersey (down 1,700 jobs or 1.0 percent)
• Missouri (down 1,500 jobs or 1.0 percent)
• Wisconsin (down 1,000 jobs or 0.7 percent)

During that period, Arkansas lost the highest percentage of jobs (down 1.2 percent or 800 jobs), followed by New York, New Jersey, Missouri, and Wyoming (down 0.9 percent or 200 jobs).

AGC officials urged Congress to increase funding for career and technical education programs, including construction-focused training, in the fiscal year 2025 spending bills for the Departments of Education and Labor. They noted that the federal government currently spends four times as much on academic college programs as it allocates for preparing career-oriented programs in fields like construction.

“The funding bills that Congress will be working on in September provide an opportunity to help many more people prepare for high-paying careers in fields like construction,” said Jeffrey D. Shoaf, AGC’s Chief Executive Officer. “Unless the nation has enough well-trained construction workers, many projects vital for economic growth and competitiveness will be delayed or postponed.”