Steel Products

Construction Employment Expands in February

April 4, 2018

Construction employment increased in 257 out of 358 metro areas between February 2017 and February 2018, declined in 50 and stagnated in 51, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America.

“Growing private-sector demand for construction services is prompting construction firms to hire more people to complete projects,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Yet tight labor markets, particularly for qualified construction workers, is making it increasingly difficult for firms to find people to bring on board.”

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Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif., added the most construction jobs during the past year (12,000 jobs, 13 percent), followed by Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. (9,900 jobs, 9 percent); Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas (9,700 jobs, 7 percent); Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas (9,300 jobs, 4 percent) and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif. (7,700 jobs, 6 percent). The largest percentage gains occurred in the Merced, Calif., metro area (33 percent, 700 jobs) followed by Midland, Texas (22 percent, 5,400 jobs); Lake Charles, La. (21 percent, 4,700 jobs) and Weirton-Steubenville, W.V.-Ohio (21 percent, 300 jobs).

The largest job losses from February 2017 to February 2018 were in Baton Rouge, La. (-6,500 jobs, -12 percent), followed by St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. (-2,500 jobs, -4 percent); Columbia, S.C. (-2,200 jobs, -11 percent); Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (-2,000 jobs, -3 percent) and Middlesex-Monmouth-Ocean, N.J. (-1,700 jobs, -5 percent). The largest percentage decreases for the year were in Auburn-Opelika, Ala. (-38 percent, -1,500 jobs) followed by Baton Rouge, Columbia, S.C. and Kokomo, Ind. (-9 percent, -100 jobs).