Dive Brief:
-
Unemployment in the construction industry declined in 49 states between March and April, the Associated Builders and Contractors reported on Monday. Hawaii was the only state with a higher industry unemployment rate than during the previous month.
-
Between April 2014 and April 2015, unemployment was down in 45 states, according to the ABC.
-
The states with the lowest construction unemployment rates in April were: Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, North Dakota and Utah. The highest unemployment was in: West Virginia, Georgia, California, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Dive Insight:
The Associated General Contractors of America reported Friday that construction unemployment nationwide fell to 6.7% in May, the lowest May rate since 2006.
The ABC attributed the improvement in so many states to housing’s recovery “from a difficult first quarter” when contractors struggled with severe winter weather and a dip in construction spending.