Building employment elevated in 33 states and the District of Columbia in Might from a yr earlier, whereas 27 states added development jobs between April and Might, based on a brand new evaluation of federal employment knowledge launched by the Related Basic Contractors of America (AGC). AGC officers famous development employment positive aspects within the trade have been muted amid questions on a variety of federal labor, tax, and commerce insurance policies.
“Building has been in a holding sample for a number of months, with positive aspects in a small majority of states,” says Ken Simonson, the affiliation’s chief economist. “Uncertainty over tariffs, immigration, federal funding, taxes, and different coverage shifts is inflicting many kinds of initiatives to be placed on maintain throughout the nation.”
Between Might 2024 and Might 2025, 33 states and D.C. added development jobs, 16 states shed jobs, and employment was unchanged in Connecticut. Texas added essentially the most development workers (28,600 jobs or 3.4 %), adopted by Ohio (17,000 jobs, 6.9 %), Michigan (10,400 jobs, 5.3 %), Florida (9,900 jobs, 1.5 %), and New Mexico (9,100 jobs, 17.2 %). New Mexico had the biggest proportion acquire over 12 months, adopted by Idaho (10.1 %, 7,200 jobs), Kentucky (7.1 %, 6,600 jobs), West Virginia (7.1 %, 2,400 jobs) and Ohio.
California misplaced essentially the most development employment through the previous 12 months (-13,800 jobs, -1.5 %), adopted by Washington (-11,200 jobs, -5.0 %), New York (-6,800 jobs, -1.7 %), New Jersey (-4,600 jobs, -2.8 %), and Massachusetts (-4,000 jobs, -2.3 %). The biggest proportion loss was in Washington, adopted by New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon (-2.3 %, -2,700 jobs), and Arkansas (-2.2 %, -1,500 jobs).
For the month, development employment elevated in 27 states and D.C., declined in 21 states, and was unchanged in New Hampshire and Wisconsin. Michigan added essentially the most development jobs (4,300 jobs or 2.1 %), adopted by Washington (3,100 jobs, 1.5 %), Missouri (2,200 jobs, 1.5 %), Texas (2,200 jobs, 0.3 %), and New Mexico (1,600 jobs, 2.6 %). The biggest proportion acquire occurred in Montana (3.9 %, 1,400 jobs), adopted by Alaska (3.8 %, 700 jobs), New Mexico, Michigan, and Idaho (1.7 %, 1,300 jobs).
Virginia and California skilled the biggest decline in development jobs from April to Might, (-1,900 jobs, -0.8 %) and (-1,900 jobs, -0.2 %), respectively. This was adopted by Oregon (-1,700 jobs, -1.5 %), Georgia (-1,400 jobs, -0.6 %), and Minnesota (-1,100 jobs, -0.8 %). Vermont misplaced the very best proportion of jobs for the month (-1.9 %, -300 jobs), adopted by Oregon, Arkansas (-1.4 %, -900 jobs), Rhode Island (-1.3 %, -300 jobs), and Virginia.
