by Brianna Crandall — May 6, 2011—Construction employment increased in 138 out of 337 metropolitan areas between March 2010 and March 2011, decreased in 153, and stayed level in 46, according to a new analysis of federal employment data by the Associated General Contractors of America. But association officials said that the industry’s five-year employment slump is far from over, and could worsen as public construction winds down.
Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas again added more construction jobs (9,800 jobs, 10 percent) than any other metro area during the past year while Bay City, Michigan added the highest percentage (25 percent, 200 jobs). The largest job losses were in Atlanta-Sandy Spring-Marietta, Georgia (-6,800 jobs, -7 percent) and New York City (-6,800 jobs, -6 percent), while Lewiston, Idaho (-38 percent, -500 jobs) lost the highest percentage.
Association officials said that private nonresidential and multifamily construction appear to be stabilizing or picking up in most markets, but that the gains are likely to be offset by pending drops in public construction. Noting that prices for many key construction materials continue to rise, association officials cautioned that delaying investments in public construction could likely force taxpayers to pay more for the same work in the future.
AGC provides the construction employment figures by metro area and rank on its Web site.
