US construction employment increased in 243 out of 358 metro areas between May 2016 and May 2017, declined in 59 and stagnated in 54, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. (16,500 jobs, 18 percent) added the most construction jobs during the past year, while the largest percentage gains occurred in the Lake Charles, La. metro area (24 percent, 4,500 jobs).
The largest job losses from May 2016 to May 2017 were in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas (-5,300 jobs, -2 percent), while the largest percentage decreases for the year were in Danville, Ill. (-17 percent, -100 jobs).
Association officials noted that one of the key reasons for construction workforce shortages is the lack of career and technical education programs available, particularly at the secondary level. They said new legislation to renew the federal Perkins Act, which funds career and technical education programs, would help by giving education officials new flexibility and funding to establishing construction-focused programs. The measure passed in the House last week and association officials urged Senators to approve the measure as well.