Construction employment increased in 248 out of 358 US metro areas between January 2017 and January 2018, declined in 68 and stagnated in 42, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. added the most construction jobs during the past year (10,600 jobs, 12 percent), while the largest percentage gains occurred in the Merced, Calif. metro area (38 percent, 800 jobs).
The largest job losses from January 2017 to January 2018 were in Baton Rouge, La. (-6,600 jobs, -13 percent), while the largest percentage decreases for the year were in Auburn-Opelika, Ala. (-32 percent, -1,200 jobs).