Construction employment increased in 190 of 358 metro areas, reports the Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA) in a new analysis.
Firms appear to be having an easier time finding workers to hire, according to AGCA. Additionally, AGCA reports construction employment remained unchanged in 64 metro areas and declined in 104 between November 2014 and December 2015.
According to the study, New York City added the most construction jobs during the past year. Other metro areas adding a large number of construction jobs were Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colo. (8,300 jobs, 9 percent); Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, Calif. (8,200 jobs, 10 percent); and Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. (7,900 jobs, 8 percent). Also, the largest percentage gains occurred in Weirton-Steubenville, W.Va.-Ohio (50 percent, 800 jobs); Boise, Idaho (19 percent, 3,300 jobs); Coeur d’Alene (18 percent, 700 jobs); and Huntsville, Ala. (18 percent, 1,400 jobs).
The largest job losses were in Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (-5,400 jobs, -7 percent); Raleigh, N.C. (-1,800 jobs, -5 percent); Bergen-Hudson-Passaic, N.J. (-1,500 jobs, -5 percent); Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Miss. (-1,400 jobs, -16 percent); and New Orleans-Metairie, La. (-1,400 jobs, -5 percent).
“Construction employment is expanding in more parts of the country now that firms appear to be having more success finding workers to hire,” says Ken Simonson, chief economist for AGCA. “Firms may not be able to continue expanding their headcounts as rapidly unless public officials increase investments in career and technical education programs.”
Despite the fact that more firms are finding workers to hire, association officials say many parts of the country still lack career and technical training programs.
