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Oregon continues to suffer construction job losses because of weak demand for new construction, according to a report released today by the Associated General Contractors of America.  The report used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Statewide construction jobs in Oregon fell from 74,200 jobs in Feb. 2009 to 60,600 jobs in Feb. 2010, a loss of 13,600 jobs.

According to Mike Salsgiver, executive director of AGC‘s Oregon-Columbia Chapter, the decline is related to a lack of private investment.

“The projects are out there waiting to be built,” Salsgiver said. “But there’s no financing available, or it’s so onerous that neither party wants to take the risk.”

Salsgiver also said that he continues to hear that more stimulus funds will soon flow into the state to start up construction projects.

In the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro area, construction jobs declined by 15 percent from 50,400 jobs in Feb. 2009 to 42,600 jobs in Feb. 2010.

Nationally, only ten metro areas out of 337 metropolitan areas tracked by AGC added construction jobs during the last year. And 230 metro areas experienced declines in the double digits, while only two cities experienced a double digit increase.