Construction Employment Rises in 80% of Metro Areas

Construction employment increased in 287 out of 358 metro areas (80 percent) between August 2017 and August 2018, declined in 35 (10 percent) and was unchanged in 36, according to a new analysis of federal employment data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

“The increases in construction employment have been showing up in more and more metro areas,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Moreover, the gains should continue. Three out of four firms in our association’s latest workforce survey say they plan to add hourly craft personnel in the next year. But even more firms—80 percent—say they are having a hard time filling some or all hourly craft positions.”