New Analysis Shows CT Losing Construction Jobs

Connecticut continues to lose jobs in the construction industry, despite the upturn in the economy. That’s according to a new analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. WNPR’s Harriet Jones reports.

Connecticut is among 25 states that are still bleeding construction jobs, according to the association. Last month, the state lost 1,300 positions – more than 2% of total construction employment in the state. Since May 2009, construction in Connecticut has lost almost 4,000 jobs. The Association says projects funded with stimulus cash are continuing to support employment in some parts of the country, but many of those will end later this year, and the analysis predicts that employment won’t make a substantial improvement until 2011. Chief Economist Ken Simons:

“The stimulus is showing up more types of work, and is filtering through in every state in varying degrees. There is also power construction, power plants, wind, solar, geothermal. But offsetting those few positives, you have continuing steep declines in developer-financed categories, such as hotels, office and retail, and in state and local government projects as their budget continue to be squeezed.”

The housing market in Connecticut has begun to experience a modest uptick, but new housing permits remain depressed, and the general recovery has yet to translate into new home construction.

For WNPR, I'm Harriet Jones.