U.S. construction employment ticked up in 2023

ARLINGTON, VA. — Construction employment increased in 224 of 358 U.S. metro areas between December 2022 and December 2023, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data.

Association officials noted the industry still has nearly 400,000 unfilled positions nationwide, and likely would have added even more jobs if firms could find more qualified workers to hire.

“Even more metro areas would have added workers if they were available,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, in a release. “But there were 374,000 job openings in construction at the end of December according to a separate government report, illustrating the difficulty contractors face in filling positions.”

Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas added the most construction jobs (12,300 jobs, up eight per cent), followed by Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. (10,400 jobs, up seven per cent); Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif. (10,000 jobs, a rise of nine cent); Baton Rouge, La. (9,100 jobs, 18 per cent); and Austin-Round Rock, Texas (8,100 jobs, 10 per cent). The largest percentage gain was in Sioux Falls, S.D. (20 per cent, 2,000 jobs); followed by Tulsa, Okla. (19 per cent, 4,600 jobs); Baton Rouge; Danville, Ill. (17 per cent, 100 jobs); and Albuquerque, N.M. (16 per cent, 4,000 jobs).

Construction employment declined over the year in 80 metro areas and was unchanged in 54 areas. The largest job loss occurred in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas (minus 5,900 jobs, three per cent); followed by Orange-Rockland-Westchester, N.Y (down 4,500 jobs, 10 per cent); Nassau County-Suffolk County, N.Y. (minus 4,500 jobs, five per cent); and Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colo. (down 3,500 jobs, three per cent).

Association officials noted a recently released Senate immigration reform proposal would do little to help address construction labour shortages. The measure makes it harder for individuals to be granted work authorizations and proposes no changes to expand legal temporary worker visa programs that covers people seeking to work in construction.