Uncover the Hard Work of Louisiana's Construction Workers

Louisiana: A Hub of Construction Activity

Several Southern states, including Louisiana and Texas, have witnessed a significant influx of construction activity in recent years. This trend is expected to continue well into 2025. The demand for construction services in these regions is on the rise, and construction workers are playing a crucial role in meeting this demand.

For instance, specialty contractors working in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma reported being particularly busy in 2023. They amassed high levels of revenue, with electrical contractors recording huge gains. Rosendin Electric in Texas, one of the largest electrical contractors in the US with over 7,500 staff, reported $560.67 million in 2023 regional revenue, a roughly 8 percent increase from the previous year.

National Growth in the Construction Industry

The construction industry has experienced considerable growth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many experienced job losses during this time, but the industry has since rebounded. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2023, the industry employed more people (6.225 million) than it did pre-COVID in May 2019 (6.194 million). This growth is a testament to the resilience of the construction sector.

Analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) in April 2024 shows that 39 states recorded an increase in the number of construction worker jobs in the last year. This indicates a positive trend for the industry across the nation.

West Coast vs. Louisiana: A Comparison

On the West Coast, builders work 10 hours less per week than their counterparts in Louisiana. Those in California average a total of 36.6 hours per week, while in New Jersey and Florida, construction workers across both states average slightly more, with a working week totaling 37 hours. This highlights the significant difference in working hours between different regions.

Even among the states with lower working weeks, construction workers still put in more hours than the average working American, who is said to have a working week of approximately 34.3 hours, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics between August and October.