Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Honolulu Construction Employment Down 1%–Maui up 8%
By News Release @ 9:35 PM :: 8960 Views :: Economy, Labor, Rail

CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT INCREASES IN 217 OUT OF 358 METRO AREAS BETWEEN APRIL 2017 AND 2017 AMID STRONG PRIVATE-SECTOR DEMAND FOR CONSTRUCTION

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. and Lake Charles, La. Have Largest Year-over-Year Gains; Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas and Casper, Wyo. Experience Biggest Declines for the Year

News Release from Associated General Contractors of America, May 31, 2017

Construction employment increased in 217 out of 358 metro areas between April 2016 and April 2017, declined in 89 and stagnated in 52, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that construction firms in many parts of the country continue to expand headcount amid strong private-sector demand for their services.

"Construction employment continues to expand in the majority of the nation's metro areas," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "Many firms are adding new employees as they work to keep pace with demand for new private-sector projects."

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. (14,600 jobs, 16 percent) added the most construction jobs during the past year, followed by Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla. (8,900 jobs, 13 percent); Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nev. (8,500 jobs, 16 percent); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga. (6,800 jobs, 6 percent) and San Diego-Carlsbad, Calif. (6,300 jobs, 8 percent). The largest percentage gains occurred in the Lake Charles, La. (29 percent, 5,300 jobs) metro area, followed by Lewiston, Idaho-Wash. (23 percent; 300 jobs); Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, Mich. (18 percent, 3,600 jobs) and Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise.

The largest job losses from April 2016 to April 2017 were in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas (-7,600 jobs, -3 percent), followed by St. Louis, Mo. (-4,000 jobs, -6 percent); Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, Ill. (-3,800 jobs, -3 percent) and Middlesex-Monmouth-Ocean, N.J. (-3,200 jobs, -8 percent). The largest percentage decreases for the year were in Casper, Wyo. (-21 percent, -700 jobs); Charleston, W.V (-16 percent, -1,200 jobs); Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Miss. (-12 percent, -1,100 jobs); Bay City, Mich. (-10 percent, - 100 jobs) and Trenton, N.J. (-10 percent, -500 jobs).

(Construction employment in Urban Honolulu dropped 1% from 28,100 in April, 2016 to 27,800 in April, 2017 for a net loss of 300 jobs.  Honolulu ranks 271st of 358 metro areas.  Construction employment on Maui (Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina) jumped 8% from 3,800 in April, 2016 to 4,100 in April, 2017.  Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ranks 48th of 358 metro areas.)

Association officials cautioned that public investments in infrastructure have declined by 8.5 percent during the past twelve months, even as private-sector demand continues to grow.  They added that deteriorating infrastructure could undermine continued economic growth as businesses are forced to pay more, and wait longer, to ship goods and services.  They said an infrastructure proposal outlined by the Trump administration last week should provoke needed debate in Washington about how to pay for future public works projects.

"Private-sector demand will suffer if employers are forced to spend more to cope with congested roads, aging bridges and inefficient water systems," said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer.  "Congress needs to find a reliable and long-term way to pay for future upgrades before aging infrastructure undermines future growth prospects."

View the metro employment data by rank and state. View metro employment map.

###

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii