Construction employment remained below pre-pandemic, February 2020 levels in 39 states across the country, according to an analysis of government data by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Additionally, the AGC reported construction employment decreased or stagnated in half the states from July to August as the delta variant of COVID-19 impacted the industry. A survey conducted by the association found more than half of respondents reported experiencing projects that have been canceled, postponed, or scaled back.
From February 2020, the last full month before the COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread project shutdowns and cancelations, through August 2021, only 11 states and the District of Columbia reported construction job growth. Texas, New York, and California lost the largest number of industry jobs from February 2020 to August 2021, while Wyoming and Louisiana reported the largest percentage decline of construction jobs. Conversely, Utah, North Carolina, and Idaho added the largest number of industry jobs during the same period. South Dakota recorded the largest percentage gain of construction jobs since February 2020.
On a month-to-month basis, 22 states experienced a decrease in construction jobs between July to August. Kansas and Georgia lost the largest amount of construction jobs between July and August while Alabama and Wyoming reported some of the largest percentage declines on a month-to-month basis.
The AGC attributed negative construction employment pressure to supply chain challenges and growing market uncertainty caused by the emergence and persistence of the Delta variant.
