Construction jobs Washington State

Washington state added almost 10, 000 new construction jobs last year.

Marcus R. Donner

Washington was one of 44 states across the country to add construction jobs in 2015.

The Associated General Contractors of America said the state added 9, 900 jobs last year, a 5.9 percent gain. There are more than 100 active construction projects in the greater downtown Seattle area alone, meaning that the construction industry is helping power the broader Puget Sound economy. The state unemployment rate is 5.3 percent.

California and Hawaii added the most jobs, while North Dakota posted the largest decline. California added 59, 300 jobs, an increase of 8.6 percent.

“Construction employment expanded in most parts of the country last year as demand for new projects rebounded, ” said Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer for the association. “The question now is whether declining energy prices will impact construction employment in a larger part of the country this year.”

Other states that added a high number of new jobs included New York, Colorado and Florida.

North Dakota lost 3, 000 jobs, a decline of 98.1 percent.

Association officials said the fact so many states added construction jobs last year is a sign that firms are finding a way to expand as construction activity increases.

In a separate report, international property and construction consulting firm Rider Level Bucknall said the U.S. construction industry was in its best shape since the 2008 financial crisis.