US construction employment increased in 256 out of 358 metro areas between April 2017 and April 2018, declined in 63 and was unchanged in 39, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America.
Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas added the most construction jobs during the past year (12,400 jobs, 9 percent), while the Midland, Texas metro area had the largest percentage gain (8,000 jobs, 31 percent).
The largest job losses from April 2017 to April 2018 were in St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. (-3,100 jobs, -5 percent), while the largest percentage decreases for the year were in Bloomington, Ill. (-16 percent, -500 jobs).
Association officials said that despite these widespread employment increases, many contractors report difficulty in finding qualified workers. With the national unemployment rate at a 17-year low and many metro unemployment rates at new record lows for April, finding workers is not expected to get easier in the near future. They added that education and training initiatives are the best way to increase the pool of skilled workers, creating a new generation of carpenters, electricians, and others, while giving Americans access to highly rewarding work.
“The good news is that the strong economy is driving demand for many types of construction projects,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “All that economic activity means that there are fewer, qualified, workers available for construction firms to hire to keep pace with demand.”