Construction Employment Rose YOY in May in 33 States & DC

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Construction Employment Rose YOY in May in 33 States & DC

Washington, DC, June 30, 2025-Seasonally adjusted construction employment rose from May 2024 to May 2025 in 33 states and the District of Columbia, declined in 16 states and was flat in Connecticut, according to AGC’s analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data. 

The most construction jobs were again added in Texas (28,600 or 3.4%) and Ohio (17,000, 6.9%), followed by Michigan (10,400, 5.3%), Florida (9,900, 1.5%), and New Mexico (9,100, 17%). New Mexico and Idaho (10%, 7,200 jobs) again led in percentage gains, followed by Kentucky (7.1%, 6,600), West Virginia (7.1%, 2,400), and Ohio.

California lost the most construction jobs (-13,800, -1.5%), followed by Washington (-11,200, -5.0%), New York (-6,800, -1.7%), New Jersey (-4,600, -2.8%), and Massachusetts (-4,000 jobs, -2.3%). The largest percentage loss was in Washington, followed by New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon (-2.3%, -2,700), and Arkansas (-2.2%, -1,500).

For the month, 27 states and D.C. added construction jobs, 21 states lost jobs, and there was no change in New Hampshire and Wisconsin. Michigan added the most construction jobs (4,300 jobs or 2.1%), followed by Washington (3,100, 1.5%), Missouri (2,200, 1.5%), Texas (2,200, 0.3%), and New Mexico (1,600, 2.6%). The largest percentage gain occurred in Montana (3.9%, 1,400 jobs), followed by Alaska (3.8%, 700), New Mexico, Michigan, and Idaho (1.7%, 1,300). The largest decline in construction jobs from April to May, -1,900, occurred in Virginia (-0.8%) and California ( -0.2%), followed by Oregon (-1,700, -1.5%), Georgia (-1,400, -0.6%), and Minnesota (-1,100, -0.8%). Vermont lost the highest percentage of jobs for the month (-1.9%, -300 jobs), followed by Oregon, Arkansas (-1.4%, -900), Rhode Island (-1.3%, -300), and Virginia. (For D.C., Delaware, and Hawaii, BLS posts combined totals for mining, logging, and construction; AGC treats the changes as all from construction.)

Total construction starts rose 13% from April to May at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, Dodge Construction Network reported on Monday. Nonresidential building starts jumped 18%, residential starts rose 2%, and nonbuilding starts soared 20%. In the first five months of 2025 combined, total starts were down 4% from January through May 2024. Nonresidential starts were down 6%, residential starts were down 5%, and nonbuilding starts were down 2%.