AGC: Construction Employment Rises in 71 Percent of U.S. Metros

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has reported that construction employment rose in 71 percent of U.S. metro areas from July 2018 to July 2019. Construction employment rose in 255 out of 358 market areas, declined in 56 areas and was unchanged in 47. Washington, D.C.-based AGC collected the data through a survey conducted with Autodesk. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale  metro area added the most construction jobs during the past year (12,100 jobs, up 8 percent), followed by Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. (11,900 jobs, 9 percent). The largest percentage gain occurred in Spokane-Spokane Valley, Wash. (23 percent, 3,500 jobs), followed by Auburn-Opelika, Ala. (19 percent, 500 jobs). The largest job losses between July 2018 and July 2019 occurred in Baton Rouge, La. (negative 4,900 jobs, 9 percent loss), followed by Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, N.C.-S.C. (negative 3,100 jobs, down 5 percent). The largest percentage decrease took place in Watertown-Fort Drum, N.Y. (10 percent drop, minus 200 jobs).