Construction job growth in the Southwest remains uneven as Nevada posts a loss of construction jobs in February while Arizona rebounds from its January losses.

 

From January 2019 to February 2019 Nevada shed 1,200 jobs according to the Associated General Contractors of America from seasonally adjusted data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Arizona gained 1,600 jobs and New Mexico added 400 jobs month-over-month when seasonally adjusted.

 

Non-seasonally adjusted figures reveal an even sharper decline in construction month-over-month in Nevada. According to non-seasonally adjusted data, the Nevada Department of Training, Employment and Rehabilitation says the state shed 2,300 construction jobs from January 2019 to February 2019.

 

Non-seasonally adjusted data in Arizona shows a gain of 1,900 jobs. From December 2018 to January 2019 non-seasonally adjusted data showed Arizona experienced a loss of 1,200 construction jobs.

 

Year-over-year, however, the Southwest seasonally adjusted job picture remains robust. From February 2018 to February 2019, Nevada ranks No. 3 in percentage gain of construction jobs at 11.7% on 10,200 jobs. Over the same period, Arizona is No. 4 at 10.7% on 16,500 jobs and New Mexico is No. 25 at 2.5% on 1,200 jobs.

 

Thirty-seven states added construction jobs between February 2018 and February 2019, but building employment increased in just 16 states between January and February of this year, according to the Associated General Contractors of America.

 

In February, the Silver State has 93,800 people working in the construction field, including buildings and specialty trade contractors, according to non-seasonally adjusted data from the Nevada Department of Training, Employment and Rehabilitation. The AGC reported that Nevada was a runner-up to West Virginia, in terms of the highest percentage of construction jobs at 11.7% on 10,200 from February 2018 to February 2019.

 

Arizona gained 1,800 jobs in February, for a total of 168,100 statewide, according to the state Office of Economic Opportunity. Between February 2018 and February 2019, the state added 16,500 jobs. That made the Grand Canyon State No. 3 in the nation for building job growth during that one-year period.

 

This border state saw slower growth for February, adding 1,200 jobs between February 2018 and February 2019, and 500 more jobs month-over-month the state Department of Workforce Solutions reported. In total, the Land of Enchantment recorded 47,700 building jobs.