Atlanta Construction Jobs Decline by 22 Percent

Tens of thousands of Atlanta construction jobs were lost last month.

According to a new report from the Associated General Contractors of America, during September, the State of Georgia as a whole saw its construction industry decline by 38,800 jobs, or 19 percent, to 201,200 jobs when compared to last year.

During the same month, the metro Atlanta area saw employment its construction industry decrease by 27,800 jobs, or 22 percent, to 125,900 jobs. Of the 337 metro areas throughout the country, Atlanta ranked 310 for construction jobs.

All but 12 communities throughout the nation saw a decline in construction employment from September 2008 to September 2009. Phoenix experienced the biggest drop, as the city lost 35,100 of its construction jobs during the 12-month period. The Reno-Sparks area in Nevada saw the largest percentage decline, losing 35 percent of its construction jobs.

Other major cities that saw large employment declines in construction include: Kokomo, Ind., by 31 percent; Redding, Calif., by 29 percent; El Centro, Calif., by 29 percent; and Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, Wash., by 28 percent.

Columbus, Ind., was the only community that saw a double-digit increase in construction employment, as the industry increased by 15 percent. Only eight cities were able to add construction jobs on a yearly basis during September, but even those increases only amounted to 2,100 jobs.

Those cities include: Anderson, Ind., by 6 percent; Bismarck, N.D., by 3 percent; Tulsa, Okla., by 3 percent; and Baton Rouge, La., by 1 percent.