Construction employment declined in 28% of the 358 metro areas analyzed by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) in March 2019. The March employment data reflect the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19)-related shutdown orders and project cancellations on the construction industry.
"These new figures foreshadow even larger declines in construction employment throughout the country as the pandemic's economic damage grows more severe," AGC chief economist Ken Simonson said. "Unfortunately, the data for April and later months are sure to be much worse. In our latest survey, more than one-third of firms report they had furloughed or terminated workers—a direct result of growing cancellations."
The largest percentage decline in construction employment from March 2019 to March 2020 occurred in Laredo, Texas, and Lake Charles, La. Both metro areas lost more than 18% of construction jobs on a year-over-year (YOY) basis. New York City experienced the largest numerical decrease in construction employment on a YOY basis.
Construction employment increased in 205 metro areas in the 12-month period between March 2019 and 2020. Lewiston, Idaho-Wash., and Walla Walla, Wash., experienced the largest percentage increase in employment and Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas, experienced the largest numerical gain in employment on a YOY basis.
