Texas and New Mexico Have Highest Number and Percent of 12-Month Gains, While California and Montana Lag; Ohio and West Virginia Top Lists of Monthly Gains; Washington Has the Worst Losses from January to February
Construction employment increased in 31 states and the District of Columbia in February from a year earlier, while 27 states plus D.C. added construction jobs between January and February, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials noted that fewer states are adding construction jobs compared to last year amid growing market uncertainty.
“Contractors in a majority of states added workers in February compared to the previous month and a year ago," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "But the increases have been getting less widespread as concern grows over the possible impact of tariffs, retaliatory measures by U.S. trading partners, and the pending cancellation of work authorizations for workers from certain countries.”
Between February 2024 and February 2025, 31 states and D.C. added construction jobs, 17 states shed jobs, and employment was unchanged in Indiana and West Virginia. Texas added the most construction employees (21,700 jobs or 2.6 percent), followed by Florida (16,900 jobs, 2.6 percent), Ohio (14,500 jobs, 5.9 percent), Idaho (7,200 jobs, 10.3 percent), and North Carolina (7,000 jobs, 2.6 percent). New Mexico (12.2 percent, 6,500 jobs) had the largest percentage gain over 12 months, followed by Idaho, Mississippi (6.7 percent, 3,300 jobs), Wyoming (6.5 percent, 1,500 jobs) and Washington D.C. (6.3 percent, 900 jobs).
California lost the most construction jobs during the past 12 months (-14,900 jobs, -1.6 percent), followed by Washington (-13,900 jobs, -6.2 percent), Arizona (-8,100 jobs, -3.5 percent), New York (-7,600 jobs, -1.9 percent), and Massachusetts (-4,400 jobs, -2.6 percent). The largest percentage loss was in Montana (-6.4 percent, -2,400 jobs), followed by Washington, Iowa (-4.0 percent, -3,400 jobs), Arizona, and Massachusetts.
For the month, industry employment increased in 27 states and D.C., declined in 20 states, and was unchanged in North Dakota, Alaska, and Iowa. Ohio added the most construction jobs (8,200 jobs or 3.3 percent), followed by Florida (5,500 jobs, 0.8 percent), Texas (5,200 jobs, 0.6 percent), Virginia (4,200 jobs, 2.0 percent), and Maryland (4,100 jobs, 2.6 percent). The largest percentage gain occurred in West Virginia (4.5 percent, 1,500 jobs) followed by Kentucky (4.1 percent, 3,800 jobs), Ohio, Maryland, and Virginia.
Washington experienced the largest decline in construction jobs from January to February, both in number and percentage (-9,600 jobs or -4.3 percent), followed by California (-3,500 jobs, -0.4 percent), Oregon (-2,200 jobs, -1.9 percent), and Wisconsin (-2,000 jobs, -1.4 percent). Montana lost the second highest percentage of jobs for the month (-4.1 percent, -1,500 jobs), followed by Oregon, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma (-1.2 percent, -1,100 jobs).
Association officials noted they were working to keep members informed of the latest developments in tariff and immigration policy and what it might mean for the construction industry. They urged the administration to boost funding for domestic construction education and training programs and to expand opportunities for people to lawfully enter the country to work in construction.
“The administration has done a good job securing the border, and now we are eager to work with them to secure the future workforce,” said Jeffrey Shoaf, the association’s chief executive officer. “We want to work together with the administration to expand opportunities to recruit more people into high-paying construction careers.”
View January 2025 state employment data and 1-month, 12-month rankings, and peak comparison.