Construction employment grew in 244, or 68 percent, out of 358 metro areas between September 2018 and September 2019, declined in 61 and was unchanged in 53, according to the Associated General Contractors of America.
The Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas metro area added the most construction jobs during the past year (15,000 jobs, 10 percent). Other metro areas adding a large amount of jobs include Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona (12,400 jobs, 10 percent); and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, California, (10,700 jobs, 7 percent). The largest percentage gain occurred in Pocatello, Idaho (17 percent, 300 jobs). Construction employment reached a new September high in 64 metros and a new low in three areas.
The largest job losses between September 2018 and 2019 occured in New York City (-3,600 jobs, -2 percent) followed by Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, North Carolina (-3,400 jobs, -5 percent). The largest percentage decrease took place in Longview, Texas (-11 percent, -1,600 jobs), followed by Fairbanks, Alaska (-9 percent, -300 jobs).
Association officials said firms are boosting pay and benefits, investing in training programs, and adopting new technologies to improve efficiency. Many also report they are proposing longer construction schedules and charging more for products because of labor shortages.
Source: AGC
