Construction Employment Declines in 165 out of 337 Metro Areas Between July 2011 and July 2012

Construction employment declined in 165 out of 337 metropolitan areas between July 2011 and July 2012, increased in 123 and was stagnant in 49, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that the new data comes out as many metro areas continue to struggle with constricting public sector budgets and uneven private sector growth. “Construction employment is healthy in the handful of areas where private sector demand is on the rebound,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “However, construction employment in most metro areas is suffering from the effects of tepid private sector demand and shrinking public sector construction budgets.” Read the full press release here. The news was covered by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, News Observer, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Corpus Christi Caller Times, WBIW, Kansas City Star, New Mexico Business Weekly, Austin Business Journal, Greater Binghamton Business Journal, Birmingham Business Journal, Dayton Business Journal, Northern Colorado Business Report, Phoenix Business Journal, San Antonio Business Journal, Triangle Business Journal, Wichita Business Journal, Finance and Commerce, and Multi-Housing News.