ARLINGTON, VA. — U.S. construction employment increased in 63 per cent of 358 metro areas between May 2023 and May 2024, according to an analysis of new government employment data by the Associated General Contractors of America.
“A pullback in starts by developers of apartments, warehouses and offices, along with spotty improvement in single-family starts, has held down job gains in some metros,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, in a statement. “But surging demand for data centres, manufacturing and power projects and infrastructure mean contractors in many metros are still short of all the workers they need.”
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas added the most construction jobs (8,400 jobs or four per cent) between May 2023 and May 2024, followed by Baton Rouge, La. (8,200 jobs, 18 per cent); Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nev. (6,900 jobs, eight per cent); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga. (6,000 jobs, four per cent); and Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, Fla. (5,200 jobs, nine per cent).
The largest percentage gain, 23 per cent, occurred in Fairbanks, Alaska, which added 600 jobs.
Construction employment declined over the year in 83 metro areas and was unchanged in 50 areas. The largest job loss occurred in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colo. (minus 4,400 jobs, four per cent), followed by Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis. (down 3,800 jobs, four per cent) and New York City (minus 3,800 jobs, three per cent).
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