Census shows state’s construction industry shed 24 percent of jobs in 4 years

Jeff Minerley of John Ranson Construction Inc., West Allis, secures metal studs while at The Brewhouse Inn & Suites in Milwaukee on June 19. New census numbers show the state lost about 163,000 jobs from 2007-2010. The biggest declines during the recession years came in construction, which was down about 24 percent, and manufacturing, down nearly 16 percent. (Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)

MILWAUKEE (AP) – New U.S. Census Bureau data shows Wisconsin lost 6,700 companies from 2007 to 2010.

The loss amounts to about 163,000 jobs. The biggest declines during the recession years came in construction, which was down about 24 percent, and manufacturing, down nearly 16 percent.

While most industries in Wisconsin lost companies and employees, some managed to grow, including health care and the social assistance sectors.

Economist Brian Jacobsen tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel most of the trends from that four-year period didn’t necessarily carry into 2011 and 2012. Jacobsen said there have been gains in manufacturing and the construction industry stabilized in 2011.

Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com