Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas and Anchorage, Alaska Have Highest Number and Percentage of Job Gains over 12 Months, While New York City and Ithaca, N.Y. Experience Worst Job Losses
Construction employment increased in 244, or 68 percent, of 358 metro areas between December 2023 and December 2024, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials cautioned, however, that most firms reported having a hard time finding enough qualified workers to hire even before the new Trump administration began to curtail work authorizations, among other measures.
“Construction firms are doing all they can to recruit and retain as many workers as possible to keep pace with demand,” said Jeffrey Shoaf the association’s chief executive officer. “But it is hard when the government discourages students from pursuing those careers and won’t let many people enter the country to lawfully work in construction but wants to build a lot of things.”
Anchorage, Alaska had the largest percentage gain (18 percent, 1,900 jobs), followed by Fairbanks, Alaska (15 percent, 400 jobs); Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, Hawaii (13 percent, 600 jobs); and Cheyenne, Wyo. (11 percent, 400 jobs).
Construction employment declined over the year in 63 metro areas and was unchanged in 51 areas. The largest job loss occurred in New York City (-9,700 jobs, -7 percent), followed by Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. (-5,100 jobs, -3 percent); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Ore.-Wash. (-4,400 jobs, -5 percent); Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, Calif. (-4,100 jobs, -4 percent); and Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Cali. (-3,700 jobs, -3 percent).
The largest percentage decrease occurred in Ithaca, N.Y. (-9 percent, -100 jobs), followed by Silver Spring-Frederick-Rockville, Md. (-7 percent, -2,300 jobs); Duluth, Minn.-Wis. (-7 percent, -600 jobs); New York City, N.Y. (-7 percent, -9,700 jobs); and 5 percent declines in San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, Calif. (-2,000 jobs); San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif. (-2,600 jobs); Pueblo, Color. (-200 jobs); Portland-South Portland, Maine (-500 jobs); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Ore.-Wash. (-4,400 jobs).
Association officials noted the federal governments invests four times as much annually urging students to attend college than it does preparing them for careers in fields like construction. And there are limited opportunities for people with construction skills to lawfully enter the country and work in construction. Association officials urged policy makers to boost funding for construction education and training and allow more people to lawfully enter the country to work in construction.
“Federal leaders need to start promoting construction careers while also providing some short-term relief as well,” Shoaf said. View the metro employment by state, rank, and top 10.