Latest News, WV Press Videos

W.Va. loses most construction jobs among states

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Construction jobs in West Virginia fell by more than 11 percent last year, the biggest plunge of any state in the country, according to an analysis of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Construction employment fell by 11.3 percent between November 2013 and November 2014, a period that saw construction jobs across the country grow by 4 percent, the analysis said.

That corresponds to 3,800 lost construction jobs over that period, a figure that would have been worse if not for growth in the Marcellus and Utica shale drilling, said Mike Clowser, executive director of the Contractors Association of West Virginia.

States that suffered the next highest job losses were Mississippi, with a 7.9 percent drop, and New Jersey, with a 4.5 percent drop, according to the AGC analysis.

Founded more than 75 years ago, the CAWV represents more than 450 West Virginia businesses today. Those companies have about 20,000 employees in the building, highway, industrial and utility contracting industries.

Their employees work on building roads, bridges, schools and hospitals, as well as water and sewer projects.

A decline in federal highway funds has been one major factor in the decline…

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

And get our latest content in your inbox

Invalid email address