Construction employment in October grew in 231 out of 358 metropolitan areas defined by the federal government, according to the Associated General Contractors of America, which is 65 percent of the regions. Comparing data to October 2018, AGC said employment declined in 69 metros and was unchanged in 58.
“Employers in most areas remain busy and eager to hire workers, but they struggle to find qualified employees in many metros,” said chief economist Ken Simonson in a prepared statement. “The fact that job openings in construction set record highs each month suggests that more metros would post gains in construction employment if eligible workers were available.”
What areas saw the most construction job growth?
The Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas, metro area lead the gainers, adding 14,300 jobs in the past 12 months, up 10 percent. Other metro areas adding a large number of construction jobs include Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona (9,800 jobs, 8 percent); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, California (9,700 jobs, 6 percent); and Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada (8,000 jobs, 12 percent).
The largest percentage gain was 20 percent, in Omaha-Council Bluffs, Nebraska-Iowa, which addes 5,900 jobs. It was followed by Auburn-Opelika, Alabama (15 percent, 400 jobs) and Bend-Redmond, Oregon (14 percent, 1,000 jobs). Construction employment reached a new October high in 76 metro areas and a new October low in two areas.
The largest number of job losses between October 2018 and October 2019 was 6,200 jobs in New York City, down 4 percent. Others were Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, Illinois (-4,700 jobs, -3 percent), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California (-3,100 jobs -3 percent), and Baton Rouge, Louisiana (-2,500 jobs, -4 percent).
The largest percentage decrease took place in Fairbanks, Alaska, down 13 percent and 400 jobs.. Next were Watertown-Fort Drum, N.Y. (-10 percent, -200 jobs), Longview, Texas (-10 percent, -1600 jobs), and Wichita Falls, Texas (-10 percent, -300 jobs).
Association officials said the growing number of construction job openings shows the importance of measures to increase the supply of potential workers. The officials urged the Trump administration and Congress to make it easier to bring in workers for specific jobs that cannot be filled domestically and to strengthen career and technical education opportunities for students seeking alternatives to college.
“Sustained economic growth depends on having a growing supply of both qualified workers and new entrants to expanding sectors such as construction,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “Construction firms are doing their best to address labor shortages, but federal officials can play a major role by putting in place needed immigration reforms and by adequately funding career and technical education.”
Source: AGC