Construction employment increased in 269 out of 358 metro areas between December 2016 and December 2017, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. AGC also found that construction employment declined in 43 metro areas and stagnated in 46. Association officials said new infrastructure funding would help ensure firms continue to expand their headcount in 2018.
"Construction employment continues to expand amid robust private-sector demand in many parts of the country," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "But with public-sector funding lagging, there is little doubt that more firms would be able to expand their headcount this year if Congress would enact a substantial boost in infrastructure projects, as many members of both parties advocate."
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA added the most construction jobs during the past year (14,300 jobs, 15%), followed by Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV; New York City; San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX; and Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ. The largest percentage gains occurred in the Cheyenne, WY metro area (25%, 800 jobs), followed by Wenatchee, WA; Punta Gorda, FL; Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA; and Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV.
The largest job losses from December 2016 to December 2017 were in Columbia, SC (-3,200 jobs, -20%), followed by Kansas City, MO; Middlesex-Monmouth-Ocean, NJ; Bergen-Hudson-Passaic, NJ; and Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI. The largest percentage decreases for the year were in Grand Forks, ND-MN (-24%, -1,000 jobs) followed by Columbia, SC; Danville, IL; and Kansas City, MO.
Association officials said that firms in many parts of the country have continued to expand as private-sector demand for new construction projects continues to hit record levels. They cautioned, however, that public-sector funding for roads and bridges declined in 2017 making it hard for many firms that build infrastructure to expand. Worse, lagging investments in infrastructure will lead to greater economic inefficiency as traffic grows, bridges age, and waterways continue to degrade, they warned.
"One of the biggest threats to the current economic expansion is that our aging infrastructure will cause shipping and traffic delays, which will raise costs, slow schedules, and create new inefficiencies," said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer. "Rebuilding public infrastructure will help our economy remain competitive and ensure that construction employers continue to add jobs."
