Construction Employment Increases in 145 out of 339 Metro Areas Between January 2012 & 2013

Construction employment increased in 145 out of 339 metropolitan areas between January 2012 and January 2013, declined in 141 and was stagnant in 53, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by AGC. Association officials noted that after years of declining construction employment contractors in some metro areas are beginning to worry about the availability of skilled workers now that they have resumed hiring. “Not only are a slight plurality of metro areas adding construction jobs, but those areas appear to be adding jobs at a faster rate than places where construction employment continues to decline,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist.  “Considering the already-released national construction employment figures for February, we are likely to see more metro areas adding jobs in the next report.” Read full press release here.