New York construction employment rises compared to last month, lags behind last year

Despite rising in August, the number of New Yorkers working in construction dropped since summer ended in 2011, according to an analysis of U.S. Department of Labor data from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

The state gained 300 construction jobs between July and August of this year, bringing the total number of construction workers in the state to 297,500, according to a report AGC released Sept. 25. That’s up 0.1 percent and the 24th best gain in the nation.

A year-over-year comparison paints a bleaker picture, though. New York lost 7,700 construction industry jobs between August 2011 and August 2012, a decline of 2.5 percent in the industry work force.

New York is not alone nationally. Construction employment fell in 30 states between August 2011 and August 2012. It fell between July and August of this year in 26 states.

“Construction employment continues to decline in many states as key tax and infrastructure decisions languish in Washington,” AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson said in a news release. “Thousands more construction workers could be employed today in states across the country if we had long-term federal tax and infrastructure programs in place.”