Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Reports Construction Employment Declines in 179 Out of 337 Metro Areas Between April 2010 and 2011

Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas, again added more construction jobs (7,400 jobs, 7 percent) than any other metro area during the past year while Grand Forks, N.D.-Minn., added the highest percentage (18 percent, 400 jobs). Other areas adding a large number of jobs included Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (2,900 jobs, 5 percent); Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas (2,300 jobs, 13 percent); Columbus, Ohio (2,200 jobs, 8 percent); and the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville area (2,000 jobs, 2 percent).

The largest job losses were in New York City (-9,300 jobs, -8 percent); followed by Las Vegas, Nev. (-7,500 jobs, -16 percent); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Ga. (-7,300 jobs, -8 percent); and Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, Co. (-5,400 jobs, -8 percent). Steubenville-Weirton, Ohio-W.Va. (-25 percent, -500 jobs) lost the highest percentage. Other areas experiencing large percentage declines in construction employment included Lewiston, Idaho-Wash. (-18 percent, -200 jobs); and Bend, Ore. (-18 percent, -600 jobs).

Association officials said private nonresidential and multifamily construction appear to be stabilizing or picking up in most markets, but that the gains are being offset by drops in public construction. They noted, for example, that private sector investments in nonresidential construction increased nearly 2 percent in March.