Construction employment increased in 65% of the 358 metropolitan statistical areas surveyed by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) between October 2018 and October 2019. While a majority of metro areas were able to add construction jobs, the AGC said hourly craftworker positions remain difficult to fill nationwide.
“Employers in most areas remain busy and eager to hire workers, but they struggle to find qualified employees in many metros,” said AGC chief economist Ken Simonson. “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 231 metro areas that added construction jobs on a year-over-year (YOY) basis continues a three-month period of declining YOY construction employment growth. The AGC reported 258 metros added construction jobs YOY in July, and that number has decreased in subsequent reports for August and September.
Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas, Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz., Los-Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif., and Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nev., added the largest number of construction jobs in the past 12 months, while Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb./Iowa, Auburn-Opelika, Ala., and Bend-Redmond, Ore., experienced the highest percentage gains in construction jobs YOY. Construction reached new October highs in 76 metro areas across the country.
New York City, N.Y., Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, Ill., and Riverside-San Bernandino-Ontario, Calif., experienced the largest number of job losses between October 2018 and October 2019, while Fairbanks, Alaska, Watertown-Fort Drum, N.Y., Longview, Texas, and Wichita Falls, Texas, experienced the largest percentage decrease in construction jobs YOY. Construction employment reached record October lows in two metro areas, according to the AGC.