ARLINGTON, VA. — Construction employment declined in 20 U.S. states and the District of Columbia (D.C.) in March, aligning with the results of a recent survey by the U.S.-based Associated General Contractors of America that found growing layoffs amid new project cancellations and state funding constraints.
The association released an analysis of new government data on April 17 that showed construction employment decreased in 20 states and the District of Columbia from February to March, held steady in six states and increased in 25 states.
The figures represented a rapid deterioration in the job market for construction. Over the 12 months ending in March, construction employment declined in only six states and D.C., held steady in two states and increased in 41 states.
The data is based on employment as of March 12, before most states or owners began curtailing construction due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While construction employment declined in many parts of the country last month, far more states, local governments and project owners have halted construction in the five weeks since the government collected this data,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, in a release. “Our two latest surveys show a steep rise in cancellations of scheduled projects, which is leading to furloughs and terminations for both jobsite and office workers.”
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