Construction employment declined in 67% of metro areas between August 2019 and August 2020, the Associated General Contractors of America reports.
The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas, area lost the most construction jobs during the year with 22,800, a 10% decline. Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Mass., had the largest percentage decline with 38%, a loss of 2,200 jobs.
The metro area with the most jobs added over the year was Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Ind., which added 4,800 construction jobs, a 9% uptick. The highest percentage increase came in Niles-Benton Harbor, Mich., which grew 16% with an additional 400 construction jobs year-over-year.
“Although residential construction is picking up in many areas, public and nonresidential construction are shrinking,” AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson stated. “Project cancellations are spreading, and fewer new projects are starting up.”
AGC’s full report can be found here.
