Construction jobs rose in 64.5% of metro areas from October 2018 and October 2019 according to the Associated General Contractors of America.

Jobs fell in 19.2% of metro areas and remain steady in 16.2% of cities. Construction employment reached a new October high in 76 metro areas and a new October low in two areas.

“Employers in most areas remain busy and eager to hire workers, but they struggle to find qualified employees in many metros,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The fact that job openings in construction set record highs each month suggests that more metros would post gains in construction employment if eligible workers were available.”

Biggest construction employment gains

The Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas metro area added the most construction jobs during the past year (14,300 jobs, 10 percent).

Other metro areas adding a large number of construction jobs during the past 12 months include:

  • Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. (9,800 jobs, 8 percent);
  • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif. (9,700 jobs, 6 percent)
  • Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nev. (8,000 jobs, 12 percent).

The largest percentage gain occurred in Omaha-Council Bluffs, Neb.-Iowa (20 percent, 5,900 jobs), followed by:

  • Auburn-Opelika, Ala. (15 percent, 400 jobs)
  • Bend-Redmond, Ore. (14 percent, 1,000 jobs).

October construction employment losers

The largest number of job losses between October 2018 and October 2019 occurred in New York City (-6,200 jobs, -4 percent), followed by:

  • Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, Ill. (-4,700 jobs, -3 percent);
  • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. (-3,100 jobs -3 percent)
  • Baton Rouge, La. (-2,500 jobs, -4 percent).

The largest percentage decrease took place in Fairbanks, Alaska (-13 percent, -400 jobs), followed by:

  • Watertown-Fort Drum, N.Y. (-10 percent, -200 jobs);
  • Longview, Texas (-10 percent, -1600 jobs)
  • Wichita Falls, Texas (-10 percent, -300 jobs).

See more gainers, losers here. Source: AGC.