Construction employment increased in 258 out of 358 metro areas between September 2020 and September 2021, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government employment data released today.
Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, California added the most construction jobs (9,000 jobs, 13 percent), followed by Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Washington (7,800 jobs, 8 percent); San Diego-Carlsbad, California (7,600 jobs, 9 percent); Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, Illinois (6,700 jobs, 5 percent) and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Massachusetts (6,700 jobs, 9 percent). Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas had the highest percentage increase (20 percent, 3,300 jobs), followed by Sierra Vista-Douglas, Arizona (19 percent, 600 jobs); Waterbury, Connecticut (17 percent, 500 jobs); Albuquerque, New Mexico (15 percent, 3,700 jobs) and Fargo, North Dakota-Minnesota (15 percent, 1,400 jobs).
Construction employment declined from a year earlier in 67 metros and held steady in 33. Nassau County-Suffolk County, New York lost the most jobs (-6,000 or -8 percent), followed by New York City (-5,500 jobs, -4 percent); New Orleans-Metairie, Louisiana (-3,100 jobs, -12 percent); Calvert-Charles-Prince George’s, Maryland (-3,100 jobs, -9 percent) and Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Maryland (-2,400 jobs, -3 percent). The largest percentage declines were in Evansville, Indiana-Kentucky (-18 percent, -1,800 jobs); New Orleans-Metairie; Fairbanks, Alaska (-10 percent, -300 jobs); Knoxville, Tennessee (-10 percent, -1,800 jobs); Gadsden, Alabama (-9 percent, -100 jobs); Calvert-Charles-Prince George’s; and Victoria, Texas (-9 percent, -300 jobs).