Construction employment dropped by 1,200 jobs in Baton Rouge over the past year, according to figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. There were 37,200 construction jobs in the Capital Region during March, compared with 38,400 in March 2010. That change put Baton Rouge 218th in construction job gains out of the 337 U.S. metro areas tracked by the AGC. Overall, 138 cities saw an increase in construction jobs. Houma-Thibodaux added 900 jobs, an 18% gain that put it fourth among cities, behind Bay City, Mich., Flagstaff, Ariz., and Elkhart, Ind. Shreveport-Bossier City was another big gainer, adding 1,100 jobs, a 13% boost that was the 16th-best in the U.S. On the other end, Lafayette lost 1,000 jobs, or 15%, of its construction workforce, the fourth-biggest drop in the country. Lake Charles lost 800 jobs, 9% of its construction workforce, and tied for the 27th-biggest drop in the country. New Orleans was down by 600 jobs, or 2%.
Capital Region loses 1,200 construction jobs
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