Florida leads nation in construction job losses

In June, Florida led the nation with 24,600 lost construction jobs, according to data from the Associated General Contractors of America cited by the Sun Sentinel. The disappointing numbers come less than a week after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau found that total housing starts increased 6.9 percent in June from May.

“The latest state data show again how fragile and fragmentary the construction recovery is,” said Ken Simonson, AGCA’s chief economist. “Although private-sector demand for structures has risen in most states, improvement in single-family homebuilding is spotty and public investment is shrinking.”

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But with so many housing starts reported across South Florida last month, construction employment is expected to rise again in coming months. “I don’t see any way around it,” said Brad Hunter, head of Metrostudy research and consulting firm in Palm Beach Gardens.. “I don’t see how homebuilding can increase by 50 percent without an increase in employment.” [Sun Sentinel] — Christopher Cameron