Staff Report
Published Nov. 24, 2010
Employment in South Carolina’s hard-hit construction industry is up slightly in October compared with September but still off from a year ago, according to data compiled by The Associated General Contractors of America.
According to the association, which received its information from the U.S. Department of Labor, the S.C. construction industry employs 81,300 people, up roughly 2,500 jobs, or 3.2%, compared with September. But construction employment remains below last year’s level — down 1,300, or 1.6%.
South Carolina was one of 29 states that saw construction employment expanded between September and October, although fewer people are working in construction compared to last year in 39 states. The new figures continue a nearly yearlong trend of ups and downs in construction employment as the industry performs stimulus-funded work but is still grappling with broad market uncertainty, the association reported.
“Considering that most states adding construction jobs in October had shed workers in September, it is safe to say that construction employment remains volatile,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Construction is no longer in free fall, but the industry remains fragile as improvements vary greatly by state and project type.”
Arizona experienced the largest one-month percentage increase (4.4%, 5,000 jobs), and Texas (2.3%, 8,800 jobs) saw the largest one-month total increase in construction employment between September and October. Other states adding large numbers of construction jobs during October included Illinois (1.5%, 3,000 jobs); Washington (2.1%, 3,000 jobs); and Colorado (1.6%, 1,800 jobs).
Simonson noted that 20 states and the District of Columbia lost construction jobs during the past month, while construction employment remained unchanged in Rhode Island. Minnesota (-2.7%, -2,300 jobs) lost the highest percentage of construction jobs for the month, and Florida lost the most jobs (-2.4%, -8,600 jobs).
Association officials said that temporary stimulus funding has helped the industry but that most firms were worried about business levels for next year. They added that private, state and local demand for construction remains weak, while long-term federal infrastructure programs and tax rates remain in limbo.
“We won’t see sustained job growth until the private sector picks up and long-term federal plans are clear,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO.
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