Construction employment grew in 250 out of 358 metro areas between April 2018 and April 2019, declined in 53 and was unchanged in 55, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said construction employment in many parts of the country likely would have been higher if firms could find more qualified workers to hire.
"Demand for construction is steady or rising in most parts of the country, and many contractors are adding workers when they can find them," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "At the same time, many firms report they would have hired even more employees if only they could find enough qualified workers."
The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. metro area added the most construction jobs during the past year (16,600 jobs, 14%). Other metro areas adding a large amount of construction jobs during the past 12 months include Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas (9,200 jobs, 6%); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif. (8,400 jobs, 6%); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga. (7,000 jobs, 6%) and Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nev. (6,800 jobs, 11%). The largest percentage gain occurred in Monroe, Mich. (26%, 500 jobs) and St. Cloud, Minn. (26%, 1,500 jobs), followed by Auburn-Opelika, Ala. (25%, 600 jobs) and Norwich-New London-Westerly, Conn.-R.I. (16%, 600 jobs).
The largest job losses between April 2018 and April 2019 occurred in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, N.C.-S.C. (-2,600 jobs, -4%), followed by Baton Rouge, La. (-1,800 jobs, -3%); Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, Conn. (-1,600 jobs, -8%) and Longview, Texas (-1,300 jobs, -9%). The largest percentage decrease took place in Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Miss. (-13%, -1,200 jobs) and Atlantic City-Hammonton, N.J. (-13%, -800 jobs), followed by Niles-Benton Harbor, Mich. (-12%, -300 jobs); Evansville, Ind.-Ky. (-9%, -1,000 jobs) and Longview, Texas.
Association officials said that even though construction employment continues to expand in many parts of the country, workforce shortages remain problematic for many contractors eager to keep pace with strong demand. They urged federal officials to boost investments in career and technical education and to enact immigration reform that allows more men and women with construction skills to legally enter the country. They also urged state and local education officials to establish more school programs that offer exposure to essential construction skills.
"One reason relatively few young adults choose to pursue rewarding careers in construction is because not many of them are being told it is an option to consider," said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer. "We have a lot of contractors looking for workers so they can keep up with the amount of work that is out there."
Related Stories
Market Data | Apr 1, 2019
Nonresidential spending expands again in February
Private nonresidential spending fell 0.5% for the month and is only up 0.1% on a year-over-year basis.
Market Data | Mar 22, 2019
Construction contractors regain confidence in January 2019
Expectations for sales during the coming six-month period remained especially upbeat in January.
Market Data | Mar 21, 2019
Billings moderate in February following robust New Year
AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for February was 50.3, down from 55.3 in January.
Market Data | Mar 19, 2019
ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator declines sharply in January 2019
The Construction Backlog Indicator contracted to 8.1 months during January 2019.
Market Data | Mar 15, 2019
2019 starts off with expansion in nonresidential spending
At a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, nonresidential spending totaled $762.5 billion for the month.
Market Data | Mar 14, 2019
Construction input prices rise for first time since October
Of the 11 construction subcategories, seven experienced price declines for the month.
Market Data | Mar 6, 2019
Global hotel construction pipeline hits record high at 2018 year-end
There are a record-high 6,352 hotel projects and 1.17 million rooms currently under construction worldwide.
Market Data | Feb 28, 2019
U.S. economic growth softens in final quarter of 2018
Year-over-year GDP growth was 3.1%, while average growth for 2018 was 2.9%.
Market Data | Feb 20, 2019
Strong start to 2019 for architecture billings
“The government shutdown affected architecture firms, but doesn’t appear to have created a slowdown in the profession,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD, in the latest ABI report.
Market Data | Feb 19, 2019
ABC Construction Backlog Indicator steady in Q4 2018
CBI reached a record high of 9.9 months in the second quarter of 2018 and averaged about 9.1 months throughout all four quarters of last year.