Nearly two out of three U.S. metro areas added construction jobs between October 2020 and October 2021, according to anĀ analysisĀ by the Associated General Contractors of America of government employment data released today. Association officials noted that the job gains would likely have been larger and more widespread if firms werenāt dealing with the twin challenges of supply chain problems and labor shortages.
āWhile it is heartening that construction is recovering from the lows of 2020 in much of the country, the pandemic is still causing major supply-chain problems and is keeping some workers from seeking employment,ā said Ken Simonson, the associationās chief economist. āThose impediments threaten to limit construction employment gains in many metros.ā
Construction employment increased in 236 or 66% of 358 metro areas over the last 12 months. Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-
Construction employment declined from a year earlier in 72 metros and held steady in 50. Nassau County-Suffolk County, N.Y. lost the most jobs (-6,700 or -8%), followed by New York City (-5,500 jobs, -3%); Orange-Rockland-Westchester counties, N.Y. (-3,600 jobs, -8%); Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas (-2,800 jobs, -2%) and Calvert-Charles-Prince Georgeās counties, Md. (-2,600 jobs, -8%). The largest percentage declines were in Evansville, Ind.-Ky. (-17%, -1,700 jobs); Altoona, Pa. (-13%, -400 jobs); Watertown-Fort Drum, N.Y. (-11%, -200 jobs); and Gary, Ind. (-10%, -1,700 jobs).
Association officials urged the Biden administration to continue working to reduce tariffs on key construction materials, and to take additional steps to ease supply chain problems at ports and other shipping facilities. They added that the association was working to recruit more people into the construction industry, and the recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill should send a positive message to many workers about the expanding career opportunities in construction.
āFirms are struggling to source materials for projects, coping with rising prices for those materials, all while eagerly searching for workers to put those materials in place,ā said Stephen E. Sandherr, the associationās chief executive officer. āWe are eager to work with public officials to address supply chain challenges even as we work to recruit more people into high-paying construction careers.ā
View the metro employmentĀ data,Ā rankings,Ā top 10, andĀ new highs and lows.
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