Construction employment increased over
the month in 20 states, fell in 16 and was unchanged (or within 100 of July
levels) in 15 plus DC. Compared to August 2006, construction employment rose in
30 states, fell in 15 and was roughly level in five plus DC. Nationally,
construction employment fell 22,000 for the month and 90,000 (1.2%) over 12
months, driven down entirely by tumbling residential employment. The largest
year-over-year percentage gains in construction were in Utah, 12%; Montana,
10%; Hawaii, Tennessee and Mississippi, 6% each. The largest losses were in
Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, -3% each; and Michigan, -10%.
Personal
income grew at a 1.2% rate in the second quarter after increasing 2.5% in
the first quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported on Thursday (www.bea.gov).