Construction Employment Rises in 190 of 358 Metro Areas YOY in Dec.

Arlington, VA, February 3, 2016—Construction employment increased in 190 out of 358 metro areas, was unchanged in 63 and declined in 105 between December 2014 and December 2015, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that many firms expect to continue expanding their headcount in 2016 as demand continues to grow for different types of construction.

"There were nearly twice as many metro areas adding construction jobs in 2015 as there were areas losing jobs," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "Considering current economic trends and our members' forecasts, many firms should continue hiring workers this year as demand expands."

Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, California (10,500 jobs, 13%) added the most construction jobs during the past year. Other metro areas adding a large number of construction jobs include Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California (9,000 jobs, 12%), Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, Illinois (8,900 jobs, 8%), and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, California (8,100 jobs, 7%). The largest percentage gains occurred in Weirton-Steubenville, West Virginia-Ohio (60%, 900 jobs); Huntsville, Alabama (18%, 1,400 jobs); Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Michigan (16%, 3,000 jobs), Saginaw, Michigan (16%, 400 jobs) and Honolulu, Hawaii (14%, 3,800 jobs).

The largest job losses from December 2014 to December 2015 were in Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (-4,300 jobs, -6%), followed by Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, Michigan (-1,800 jobs, -8%); Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas (-1,600 jobs, -1%) and Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota-Wisconsin (-1,600 jobs, -2%). The largest percentage declines for the past year were in Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula (-14%, -1,200 jobs), Florence-Muscle Shoals, Alabama (-14%, -500 jobs), Fort Smith, Arkansas (-14%, -1,000 jobs), Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, Alabama (-13%, -100 jobs), Hanford-Corcoran, California (-13%, -100 jobs) and Walla Walla, Washington (-13%, -100 jobs).