Employment Increases in 231 Metro Areas

Nov. 27, 2019

Construction employment grew in 231, or 65 percent, out of 358 metro areas between October 2018 and 2019, declined in 69, and was unchanged in 58, according to the Associated General Contractors of America.

“Employers in most areas remain busy and eager to hire workers, but they struggle to find qualified employees in many metros,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The fact that job openings in construction set record highs each month suggests that more metros would post gains in construction employment if eligible workers were available.”

The Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas metro area added the most jobs (14,300 jobs, 10 percent). Other metro areas adding a large number of construction jobs over the past year include Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona (9,800 jobs, 8 percent) and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, California (9,700 jobs, 6 percent).

The largest number of job losses between October 2018 and 2019 occurred in New York City (-6,200 jobs, -4 percent), followed by Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, Illinois (-4,700 jobs, -3 percent. The largest decrease took place in Fairbanks, Alaska (-13 percent, -400 jobs).

Source: AGC

Frank Raczon, Construction Equipment
Mark Pentz, Calvin Group/IEDA
Mark Pentz, Calvin Group/IEDA
Mark Pentz, Calvin Group/IEDA
Mark Pentz, Calvin Group/IEDA
Mark Pentz, Calvin Group/IEDA
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ID 9194607 © Arak7 | Dreamstime.com