Courtesy Adobe Stock/arhon

The non-seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rate increased nationally and in 34 states on a year-over-year (YOY) basis, according to an analysis of government data by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Despite employing 146,000 more workers nationally compared to October 2018, the national unemployment rate climbed to 4% from 3.6%, according to the ABC.

October’s rise in year-over-year employment is the smallest increase since the January 2013 increase of 116,000.

The national non-seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rate increased 0.8% from September to October. The historical pattern generally has been for rates to rise from September. Prior to this year, there were 12 increases and seven decreases since the data series began in 2000. Among the states, 42 had higher estimated construction unemployment rates from September, while five were lower and three were unchanged.

The states with the lowest estimated NSA construction unemployment rates in order from lowest to highest were:

  1. Utah, 0.9%
  2. Vermont, 1.2%
  3. North Dakota, 2.2%
  4. South Carolina, 2.3%
  5. Florida, 2.4%

The states with the highest estimated NSA construction unemployment rates in order from lowest to highest were:

  1. West Virginia, 6.5%
  2. Pennsylvania, 6.6%
  3. Kentucky, 6.9%
  4. Mississippi, 8.1%
  5. Alaska, 10.2%
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