Construction employment increased in nearly two out of three U.S. metro areas in 2021, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Yet association officials noted that labor shortages likely kept many firms from adding even more workers.
“Construction employment topped year-earlier levels in almost two-thirds of metros for the past few months,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But contractors in many areas say they would have hired even more workers if qualified candidates were available.”
Job openings in construction totaled 273,000 at the end of December, an increase of 62,000 or nearly 30% from December 2020, according to the government’s latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. That figure exceeded the 220,000 employees that construction firms were able to hire in December, implying firms would have added over twice as many workers if they had been able to fill all openings, Simonson pointed out.
Construction employment rose in 231 or 65% of 358 metro areas in 2021. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas added the most construction jobs (8,800 jobs, 4%), followed by Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, Ill. (6,500 jobs, 5%) and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif. (6,300 jobs, 4%). Sioux Falls, S.D. had the highest percentage gain (24%, 2,100 jobs), followed by Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas (18%, 3,000 jobs) and Atlantic City-Hammonton, N.J. (18%, 900 jobs).
Construction employment declined from a year earlier in 76 metros and was flat in 51. Nassau County-Suffolk County, N.Y. lost the most jobs (-5,700 or -7%), followed by New York City (-4,200 jobs, -3%) and Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Md. (-3,800 jobs, -5%). The largest percentage declines were in Evansville, Ind.-Ky. (-18%, -1,700 jobs); Napa, Calif. (-15%, -600 jobs); Anchorage, Alaska (-14%, -1,400 jobs); and Lewiston, Idaho-Wash. (-13%, -200 jobs). Seven areas set all-time lows for December, while 57 metros reached new December highs for construction jobs.
Association officials said that the growing number of job openings in the industry was a clear sign that labor shortages are getting worse. They noted that the association’s recently released 2022 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook found that 83% of contractors report having a hard time finding qualified workers to hire. They urged Congress and the Biden administration to boost funding for career and technical education to help recruit and prepare more people for high-paying construction careers.
“For every dollar the federal government currently invests in career and technical education, it spends six urging students to attend college and work in an office,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “Narrowing that funding gap will help more people understand that there are multiple paths to success.”
View the metro employment data, rankings, top 10, and new highs and lows.
Related Stories
Engineers | May 3, 2017
At first buoyed by Trump election, U.S. engineers now less optimistic about markets, new survey shows
The first quarter 2017 (Q1/17) of ACEC’s Engineering Business Index (EBI) dipped slightly (0.5 points) to 66.0.
Market Data | May 2, 2017
Nonresidential Spending loses steam after strong start to year
Spending in the segment totaled $708.6 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis.
Market Data | May 1, 2017
Nonresidential Fixed Investment surges despite sluggish economic in first quarter
Real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 0.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate during the first three months of the year.
Industry Research | Apr 28, 2017
A/E Industry lacks planning, but still spending large on hiring
The average 200-person A/E Firm is spending $200,000 on hiring, and not budgeting at all.
Market Data | Apr 19, 2017
Architecture Billings Index continues to strengthen
Balanced growth results in billings gains in all regions.
Market Data | Apr 13, 2017
2016’s top 10 states for commercial development
Three new states creep into the top 10 while first and second place remain unchanged.
Market Data | Apr 6, 2017
Architecture marketing: 5 tools to measure success
We’ve identified five architecture marketing tools that will help your firm evaluate if it’s on the track to more leads, higher growth, and broader brand visibility.
Market Data | Apr 3, 2017
Public nonresidential construction spending rebounds; overall spending unchanged in February
The segment totaled $701.9 billion on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate for the month, marking the seventh consecutive month in which nonresidential spending sat above the $700 billion threshold.
Market Data | Mar 29, 2017
Contractor confidence ends 2016 down but still in positive territory
Although all three diffusion indices in the survey fell by more than five points they remain well above the threshold of 50, which signals that construction activity will continue to be one of the few significant drivers of economic growth.
Market Data | Mar 24, 2017
These are the most and least innovative states for 2017
Connecticut, Virginia, and Maryland are all in the top 10 most innovative states, but none of them were able to claim the number one spot.
