Report: Kansas Construction Jobs Fall In Last Year

A federal report shows that construction jobs in Kansas fell 3,400 over the past year.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the U.S. Labor Department report released Saturday shows that employment in Kansas' construction industry since May 2015 slipped 5.6 percent. The Kansas percentage decline was surpassed only by drops in West Virginia and North Dakota.

The report also shows that four neighboring states experienced growth in the construction jobs sector, adding a combined 20,000 jobs to the economy.

Bob Totten, executive vice president of the Kansas Contractors Association, said diminished state spending on bridge and road work was a factor in Kansas' low ranking on construction employment.

In April, Kansas delayed up to three years authorization of highway construction projects valued at $550 million because of budget shortfalls.