falls slightly

Vermont's unemployment rate dipped slightly last month to 6.5 percent. But the jobs picture remains cloudy.

The state usually sheds a few hundred jobs in March as seasonal jobs end, but this March Vermont lost over 2,600 jobs-- an indication the economy is still struggling to rebound.

"There wasn't any sector that had significant positive job growth. It was really an across the board decline which is depressing, usually we see some sectors increase, some decreasing. Even the health care sector, which usually is growing, we lost jobs there as well," economist Art Woolf said.

Unemployment rates for Vermont's 17 labor market areas ranged from 5.2 percent in Hartford to 11.3 percent in Newport.

There are some glimmers of hope that Arizona’s bleak employment picture is improving overall, but not in the construction sector.

Arizona posted the third-worst percentage of job losses among the states for construction jobs, losing 19.9 percent of those jobs between March 2009 and March 2010, the Associated General Contractors reported Friday.

Nevada lost 30 percent of its construction work force and Colorado 20.3 percent during the same time frame.

California lost the largest number of construction jobs during that period: 108,500, representing 16.3 percent of its total, according to AGC.

The AGC numbers come a day after the Arizona Commerce Department reported that Arizona lost 2,300 construction jobs in March.

The state’s private sector added a net 7,300 jobs in March, despite the construction losses. Most of those gains were in lower-wage sectors, such as tourism and administrative support positions.
Number of jobs lost

A sampling of construction job gains (losses), March 2009 to March 2010:

Arizona: (28,000)

Florida: (57,000)

Texas: (78,100)

California: (108,500)

North Dakota: 100

Arkansas: 300

Source: Associated General Contractors


Percentage of jobs lost

Percentage losses in construction jobs, March 2009 to March 2010:

Nevada: 30 percent

Colorado: 20.3 percent

Arizona: 19.9 percent

California: 16.3 percent

Source: Associated General Contractors

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