Construction firms added jobs in 37 states over the past 12 months and in 30 states between January and February, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the job gains came even as many parts of the country experienced unusually severe winter weather, including cold and snowy conditions in the Northeast and Midwest, and warm and unusually dry conditions in much of the Southwest.
“Considering the mix of states adding and losing construction jobs for the month and year, it seems winter conditions had less of an impact than many had expected,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Instead, what appears to be driving construction employment is differing levels of demand for new buildings and infrastructure amid a relatively uneven economic recovery.”