AGC: Construction Employment Rises, Job Levels Reach Near Record Levels

Construction employment increased in 231 or 65% of 358 metro areas between January 2023 and January 2024, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials noted the industry ended the month with more than 400,000 job openings nationwide, suggesting that many more metros would have experienced employment increases if enough qualified workers were available.

Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona added the most construction jobs (10,900 jobs or 8%) between January 2023 and January 2024, followed by Riverside-San Bernardino, California (7,900 jobs, 7%); Baton Rouge, Louisiana (6,700 jobs, 15%); Austin-Round Rock, Texas (5,900 jobs, 7%) and Forth Worth-Arlington, Texas (5,900 jobs, 8%).

The largest percentage gain was in Lawton, Oklahoma (29%, 400 jobs), followed by Wenatchee, Washington (27%, 800 jobs); Fairbanks, Alaska (25%, 500 jobs) and Redding, California (22%, 800 jobs).

Construction employment declined over the year in 83 metro areas and was unchanged in 44 areas. The largest job loss occurred in New York City (-7,000 jobs, -5%), followed by Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota-Wisconsin (-6,100 jobs, -8%); Nassau County-Suffolk County, New York (-4,500 jobs, -5%); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Oregon-Washington (-4,900 jobs, -6%); and Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Washington (-4,600 jobs, -4%).

The largest percentage decrease occurred in Decatur, Illinois (-24%, -900 jobs), followed by Augusta-Richmond County, Georgia-South Carolina (-15%, -2,500 jobs); Weirton-Steubenville, West Virginia-Ohio (-11%, -200 jobs); Duluth, Minnesota-Wisconsin (-10%, -900 jobs) and Bellingham, Washington (-10% -900 jobs).