ARLINGTON, VA. — U.S. construction employment increased in 268 of 358 metro areas between November 2021 and November 2022, according to analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new U.S. government employment data.
Association officials said the job gains likely would have been higher but some contractors report demand for new projects is outpacing the availability of workers in many parts of the country.
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas added the most construction jobs (18,500 jobs or 9 per cent), followed by Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas (13,500 jobs, nine per cent), Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash. (10,400 jobs, 10 per cent) and Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. (9,400 jobs, seven per cent).
The largest percentage gains were in Provo-Orem, Utah (23 per cent, 6,400 jobs), Anchorage, Alaska (15 per cent, 1,400 jobs), Kankakee, Ill. (15 per cent, 200 jobs), Grants Pass, Ore. (15 per cent, 200 jobs) and Providence-Warwick, R.I. (15 per cent, 4,000 jobs).
Construction jobs declined over the year in 45 metro areas and were unchanged in 45 areas. The largest losses occurred in Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla. (minus 8,500 jobs, down 10 per cent), followed by Richmond, Va. (down 3,300 jobs, eight per cent), Camden, N.J. (down 1,700 jobs, seven per cent) and Austin-Round Rock, Texas (down 1,400 jobs, two per cent). The largest percentage declines occurred in Orlando, Richmond and Camden.
Association officials said that demand for construction remained relatively strong in many parts of the country, buoyed by public construction and infrastructure investments and strength in certain types of private sector development. Labour shortages continue to impact the industry.
“Contractors report they are passing on projects because they do not have enough people to do the work,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Labour shortages are suppressing job gains in the construction industry in many parts of the country.”
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