Year-over-year (YoY), total nonfarm employment increased by 2.1 million jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis (SA), or 1.4% from October 2018 to October 2019. During this time, total nonfarm employment in the Western region increased by 1.9%. The South, Northeast, and Midwest recorded gains at 1.7%, 0.9% and 0.6% respectively, during this time.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 30 states and the District of Columbia and decreased in 18 states, in October compared to the previous month. Iowa and Vermont were unchanged. Texas added 12,897 jobs, which was the largest gain of any state. The largest decline came from Michigan, which lost 21,800 jobs during this time. Nationwide, total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 128,000 over the month of October, following an increase of 180,000 jobs in September.
Year-over-year, ending in October, 48 states and the District of Columbia increased in employment. North Dakota and Michigan were essentially unchanged. California added 308,000 workers while the smallest gain came from Wyoming which added 700 workers during this time. In percentage terms, 21 states recorded annualized growth rates equal to and/or above 1.4% in employment, which was the national growth rate. Utah recorded the highest growth rate at 3.2%. The other states and the District of Columbia recorded annualized growth rates between 0.2%-1.3%.
In the construction sector specifically, which includes both residential and non-residential construction, across the 48 states which reported construction sector jobs data, 28 states had an increase in October, while 18 states reported a decline compared to September. Maine and Missouri were unchanged. The construction industry gained 10,000 jobs in October. Florida added 4,600 jobs, the highest gains in construction employees while New York lost 3,000 workers during this time.
Year-over-year, the U.S added 148,000 construction sector jobs which is a 2.0% increase compared to October 2018. Texas added 51,400 jobs, which was the largest gains of any state while Louisiana lost 9,700 jobs, which was the largest decline of any state. In percentage terms, Nevada had the highest annual growth rate in construction sector by 13.1%. Over this period, Louisiana reported the largest decline at 6.4%.
