Louisiana only state to add construction jobs

Louisiana was the only state to report an increase in construction jobs in September over the figures from the year before. According to the Associated General Contractors of America, there were 138,200 construction jobs in the state last month, a 2.1% increase over the 135,400 jobs in September 2008. The AGC says construction employment continues to deteriorate; North Dakota had been posting job gains for the past several months, but it saw the number of positions fall to lower than what they were in September 2008. AGC officials say the numbers show that the government spending in the stimulus plan approved by Congress earlier this year won’t turn around the construction industry. “The stimulus remains an important measure, but until private-sector demand for construction resumes, there’s little chance the current construction employment decline will turnaround or even stop,” says Ken Simonson, the AGC’s chief economist.