Construction lags in BLS state employment, hiring data

Seasonally adjusted payroll employment increased in January in 31 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 18 states and remained unchanged in Idaho, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Wednesday [March 10]. Compared to January 2009, employment fell everywhere except in Alaska (1,900 jobs or 0.6 percent), North Dakota (1,300 jobs or 0.4 percent) and D.C. (500 jobs or 0.1 percent). Seasonally adjusted construction employment rose from December in 18 states plus D.C., fell in 30 and was unchanged in South Dakota. However, unseasonable weather in November through January may have distorted normal employment patterns. Compared to a year earlier, construction employment fell everywhere, according to a March 15 Data DIGest report.

Read full article