Construction Employment Grew in 78% of Metro Areas in Oct. YOY

Arlington, VA, November 30, 2018-Construction employment grew in 281, or 78%, out of 358 metro areas between October 2017 and October 2018, declined in 43 and was unchanged in 34, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Association officials cautioned that such widespread employment gains might not continue without policy changes to increase the supply of qualified workers.

Construction job openings at the end of September jumped 55% from a year earlier to 278,000, the highest September level in the series' 18-year history. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for construction workers fell to 3.6% in October, the lowest October rate since that series began in 2000.

The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas metro area added the most construction jobs during the past year (25,600 jobs, 12%). Other metro areas adding a large amount of construction jobs during the past 12 months include Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona (16,700 jobs, 14%); Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas (13,100 jobs, 9%); and Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida (11,700 jobs, 16%). The largest percentage gain occurred in Midland, Texas (25%, 7,200 jobs), followed by New Bedford, Massachusetts (22%, 600 jobs); Weirton-Steubenville, West Virginia-Ohio (21%, 400 jobs); and Lewiston, Idaho-Washington (20%, 300 jobs).

The largest job losses between October 2017 and October 2018 occurred in Middlesex-Monmouth-Ocean, New Jersey (-3,900 jobs, -10%), followed by Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Maryland (-2,100 jobs, -3%); Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, California (-1,500 jobs, -2%); Camden, New Jersey (-1,100 jobs, -5%) and Spokane-Spokane Valley, Washington (-1,100 jobs, -8%). The largest percentage decrease occurred in Middlesex-Monmouth-Ocean, followed by Laredo, Texas (-10%, -400 jobs), Spokane-Spokane Valley and Charleston, West Virginia (-7%, -500 jobs).

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