Construction employment increased in 244 out of 358 metro areas, was unchanged in 44 and declined in 70 between March 2015 and March 2016, according to a new Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) analysis of federal employment data. Association officials said the new figures show that the construction sector, in most parts of the country, continues to recover from its years-long downturn.
“With more than two-thirds of the nation’s metro areas adding construction jobs it is clear that the demand for construction is broad-based geographically and by project type,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, adding that construction employment hit new peak levels in 31 metro areas. “The main soft patch for the construction industry remains the parts of the country most likely to be affected by declining energy prices.”
Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, Calif. added the most construction jobs during the past year (11,900 jobs, 14%). Other metro areas adding a large number of construction jobs include:
- New York City (9,000 jobs, 7%)
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga. (8,500 jobs, 8%
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla. (8,300 jobs, 14%)
The largest percentage gains occurred in:
- El Centro, Calif. (45%, 1,000 jobs)
- Monroe, Mich. (36%, 800 jobs)
- Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury Town, Mass.-N.H. (28%, 1,000 jobs)
The largest job losses from March 2015 to March 2016 were in:
- Odessa, Texas (-2,700 jobs, -14%)
- Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (-2,600 jobs, -4%)
- Cleveland-Elyria, Ohio (-2,500 jobs, -8%)
- Midland, Texas (-2,200 jobs, -8%)
The largest percentage declines for the past year were in:
- Bloomington, Ill. (-15%, -400 jobs)
- Odessa; Grants Pass, Ore. (-13%, -100 jobs)
- Decatur, Ill. (-13%, -400 jobs)
- Laredo, Texas (-13%, -600 jobs)
Association officials said the new employment figures are encouraging, but cautioned that workforce shortages are likely to grow as the industry continues to expand. They noted that 70% of firms, according to the association’s annual Outlook survey, report they are already having a hard time finding qualified workers. Those shortages will only get more severe considering the lack of secondary-level programs to recruit and prepare future construction workers, they added.
“As firms add to their backlog of pending projects, the backlog of available workers continues to shrink,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “It is time to start sending signals to students that there are multiple paths to success in life, and while college and office jobs are one path, high-paying careers in construction offer another, equally viable option.”
