Construction Employment Rose in 230 Metro Areas in May

Washington, DC, July 3, 2023-Construction employment, not seasonally adjusted, rose from May 2022 in 230 (64%) of the 358 metro areas (including divisions of larger metros) for which BLS posts construction employment data, fell in 79 (22%), and was unchanged in 49, according to an analysis by Associated General Contractors.

The Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas division added the most jobs (11,600 combined jobs or 8%), followed by New York City (9,600 combined jobs, 7%) and Columbus, Ohio (6,100 combined jobs, 13%). 

The largest percentage gain was in Hanford-Corcoran, California (18%, 200 combined jobs), followed by Danville, Illinois (17%, 100 combined jobs); Corvallis, Oregon (14%, 200 combined jobs) and Midland, Texas (14%,4,900 combined jobs). The largest loss occurred in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas (-5,400 construction jobs, -2%), followed by St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois (-5,100 combined jobs, -7%); the Los Angeles-Long Beach Glendale, California division (-4,700 construction jobs, -3%); and the Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, Florida division (-3,900 construction jobs, -7%). Monroe, Michigan experienced the largest percentage job loss (-16%, -400 combined jobs), followed by the Elgin, Illinois division (-9%, -1,400 construction jobs) and Anchorage, Alaska (-8%, -900 construction jobs).