flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Construction employment declined in 2020 in majority of metro areas

Market Data

Construction employment declined in 2020 in majority of metro areas

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land and Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Mass. have worst 2020 losses, while Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Ind. and Walla Walla, Wash. register largest gains in industry jobs.


By AGC | February 4, 2021

Construction employment decreased from December 2019 to December 2020 in more than half of the nation’s metro areas despite a surge in homebuilding and remodeling, according to an analysis of new government data that the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Association officials said large numbers of contractors are having to lay off workers once they complete projects that began before the pandemic because private owners and public agencies are hesitant to commit to new construction.

“A dearth of new construction work is forcing more and more contractors to lay off employees once they complete projects started before the pandemic hit in early 2020,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Private nonresidential construction spending tumbled 10% from December 2019 to December 2020 and public work has been slowing since last March, according to recent Census Bureau data.”

Construction employment fell in 191, or 53%, of 358 metro areas in 2020. Construction employment was stagnant in 33 additional metro areas, while only 134 metro areas—37%—added construction jobs between December 2019 and December 2020.

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas lost the largest number of construction jobs in 2020 (-24,500 jobs, -10%), followed by New York City (-19,100 jobs, -12%); Midland, Texas (-9,200 jobs, -23%); Montgomery-Bucks-Chester counties, Pa. (-9,100 jobs, -17%); and Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colo. (-6,900 jobs, -6%). Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Mass. had the largest percentage decline (-40%, -2,100 jobs), followed by Altoona, Pa. (-34%, -1,000 jobs); Bloomsburg-Berwick, Pa. (-33%, -400 jobs); Johnstown, Pa. (-29%, -700 jobs); and East Stroudsburg, Pa. (-26%, -500 jobs).

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Ind. added the most construction jobs over the year (5,600 jobs, 10%), followed by Northern Virginia (5,300 jobs, 7%); Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash. (4,900 jobs, 5%); Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Md. (4,800 jobs, 6%); and Kansas City, Mo. (3,300 jobs, 11%). Walla Walla, Wash. had the highest percentage increase (17%, 200 jobs), followed by Fond du Lac, Wisc. (16%, 500 jobs); Springfield, Mo. (15%, 1,400 jobs); and Dutchess-Putnam counties, N.Y.

(15%, 1,300 jobs).

Association officials said job losses are likely to widen as demand for non-residential construction suffers and state and local budget challenges undermine demand for public projects. They urged Washington officials to begin work on recovery measures to fund infrastructure and shore up local construction budgets. They added that the work on these new investments should start even as negotiations on a coronavirus relief package continue.

“Helping people now is important but planning to rebuild our economy is essential to recovering from the economic pain of the pandemic,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “It is not enough to just want a better economy; you have to build it.”

View the metro employment 12-month datarankingstop 10new highs and lowsmap.

Related Stories

Market Data | May 2, 2018

Construction employment increases in 245 metro areas between March 2017 & 2018, as trade fights & infrastructure funding shortfalls loom

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas and Weirton-Steubenville, W.Va.-Ohio experience largest year-over-year gains; Baton Rouge, La. and Auburn-Opelika, Ala. have biggest annual declines.

Market Data | May 2, 2018

Nonresidential Construction down in March, private sector falters, public sector unchanged

February’s spending estimate was revised roughly $10 billion higher.

Market Data | Apr 30, 2018

Outlook mixed for renewable energy installations in Middle East and Africa region

Several major MEA countries are actively supporting the growth of renewable energy.

Market Data | Apr 12, 2018

Construction costs climb in March as wide range of input costs jump

Association officials urge Trump administration, congress to fund infrastructure adequately as better way to stimulate demand than tariffs that impose steep costs on contractors and project owners.

Market Data | Apr 9, 2018

Construction employers add 228,000 jobs over the year despite dip in March

Average hourly earnings increase to $29.43 in construction, topping private sector by nearly 10%; Association officials urge updating and better funding programs to train workers for construction jobs.

Market Data | Apr 4, 2018

Construction employment increases in 257 metro areas between February 2017 & 2018 as construction firms continue to expand amid strong demand

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. and Merced, Calif. experience largest year-over-year gains; Baton Rouge, La. and Auburn-Opelika, Ala. have biggest annual declines in construction employment.

Market Data | Apr 2, 2018

Construction spending in February inches up from January

Association officials urge federal, state and local officials to work quickly to put recently enacted funding increases to work to improve aging and over-burdened infrastructure, offset public-sector spending drops.

Market Data | Mar 29, 2018

AIA and the University of Minnesota partner to develop Guides for Equitable Practice

The Guides for Equitable Practice will be developed and implemented in three phase.

Market Data | Mar 22, 2018

Architecture billings continue to hold positive in 2018

Billings particularly strong at firms in the West and Midwest regions.

Market Data | Mar 21, 2018

Construction employment increases in 248 metro areas as new metal tariffs threaten future sector job gains

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif., and Merced, Calif., experience largest year-over-year gains; Baton Rouge, La., and Auburn-Opelika, Ala., have biggest annual declines in construction employment.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021