Construction Employment Up in 232 of 358 Metro Areas in April

Arlington, VA, June 3, 2015—Construction employment expanded in 232 metro areas, declined in 66 and was stagnant in 60 between April 2014 and April 2015, according to analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Association officials said even as contractors in many parts of the country continue to expand their payroll, many firms remain concerned about the potential impacts of federal transportation funding shortfalls.

Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Washington added the largest number of construction jobs in the past year (12,600 jobs, 17%), followed by Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado (10,800 jobs, 12%), Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, California (7,800 jobs, 10%) and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, California (7,800 jobs, 7%).

The largest percentage gains occurred in Wenatchee, Washington (32%, 600 jobs), Atlantic City-Hammonton, New Jersey (24%, 1,100 jobs), Visalia-Porterville, California (21%, 900 jobs), Dothan, Alabama (20%, 500 jobs) and Lake Charles, Louisiana (20%, 2,700 jobs).

The largest job losses from April 2014 to April 2015 were in New Orleans-Metairie, Louisiana (-3,300 jobs, -10%), followed by Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi (-1,800 jobs, -18%), Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Oregon-Washington (-1,400 jobs, -3%), El Paso, Texas (-1,100 jobs, -8%) and Orange-Rockland-Westchester, New York (-1,100 jobs, -3%).

The largest percentage decline for the past year was in Weirton-Steubenville, West Virginia-Ohio (-29%, -600 jobs) followed by Santa Fe, New Mexico (-19%, -500 jobs), Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi and El Centro, California (-17%, -500 jobs).

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