Construction Job Growth Continues Despite Reports of Worker Shortages

Construction employment increased in 190 out of 358 metro areas, was unchanged in 64 and declined in 104 metros between November 2014 and 2015

Jan 4, 2016

New York City and Weirton-Steubenville, W.Va.-Ohio, top the growth list while Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas, and Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Miss., experience the largest yearly declines.

Construction employment increased in 190 out of 358 metro areas, was unchanged in 64 and declined in 104 between November 2014 and November 2015, according to a new Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) analysis of federal employment data. Association officials noted that the number of metro areas experiencing construction job growth continues to grow as firms appear to be having an easier time finding workers to hire steady amid reports of worker shortages.

“Construction employment is expanding in more parts of the country now that firms appear to be having more success finding workers to hire,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Firms may not be able to continue expanding their headcounts as rapidly unless public officials increase investments in career and technical education programs.”

New York City, N.Y. (9,200 jobs, 7%) added the most construction jobs during the past year. Other metro areas adding a large number of construction jobs include:

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colo. (8,300 jobs, 9%)
Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, Calif. (8,200 jobs, 10%)
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. (7,900 jobs, 8%)

The largest percentage gains occurred in:

Weirton-Steubenville, W.Va.-Ohio (50%, 800 jobs)
Boise,Idaho (19%, 3,300 jobs)
Coeur d’Alene (18%, 700 jobs)
Huntsville, Ala. (18%, 1,400 jobs)

The largest job losses from November 2014 to November 2015 were in Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (-5,400 jobs, -7%) followed by:

Raleigh, N.C. (-1,800 jobs, -5%)
Bergen-Hudson-Passaic, N.J. (-1,500 jobs, -5%)
Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Miss. (-1,400 jobs, -16%)
New Orleans-Metairie, La. (-1,400 jobs, -5%)

The largest percentage decline for the past year was in Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula followed by:

Bloomington, Ill. (-14%, -400 jobs)
Kankakee, Ill. (-14%, -200 jobs)
Fort Smith, Ark. (-13%, -900 jobs)
Walla Walla, Wash. (-13%, -100 jobs)

Association officials said that while it is encouraging that more firms appear to be finding qualified workers to hire, many parts of the country still lack for career and technical training programs, especially at the secondary school level. They said if public officials would act on the measures outlined in the association’s Workforce Development plan then more students and young adults would have an opportunity to begin high-paying careers in construction.

“It will only take a few modest investments in career and technical education to give thousands of young people a chance to earn a good living working in construction,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “Without more programs to expose students and young adults to basic construction skills, the industry will continue to struggle with worker shortages for years to come.”

View the employment data by rank and state.