An increase in private sector demand — particularly in energy, health care, higher education and residential construction — for new construction projects boosted employment in a slight plurality of metro areas.
Pascagoula, Mississippi, added the highest percentage of new construction jobs at a 42-percent increase, or 1,900 new jobs. Haverhill-North Andover-Amesbury, Massachusetts-New Hampshire’s construction workforce increase by 22 percent, an added 800 jobs; Lafayette, Louisiana’s construction jobs increased by 17 percent, an added 1,100 jobs; and Omaha-Council Bluffs, Nebraska-Iowa saw a 16-percent increase in construction jobs, adding 3,000 jobs.
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas added the most jobs: 17,600 jobs, a 10-percent increase. Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas added 8,300 jobs, an 8-percent increase; Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Washington added 7,800 jobs, a 12-percent increase; Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Massachusetts added 5,900 jobs, a 12-percent increase; and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, California added 5,700 jobs, a 5-percent increase.
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Georgia saw the largest decrease in jobs, with 4,900 jobs lost, or a 5-percent decrease. Other major job losses include Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Oregon-Washington, with 3,600 jobs lost, a 7-percent decrease; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida, with 3,500 jobs lost, a 7-percent decrease; and Northern Virginia, with 3,200 jobs lost, or a 5-percent decrease.
Jackson, Mississippi lost the highest percentage of jobs at a decrease of 20 percent, or 2,000 jobs lost. Columbus, Indiana, experienced a 19-percent decrease, or 300 jobs lost; Springfield, Massachusetts-Connecticut, experienced an 18-percent decrease, 1,400 jobs lost; and Danville, Illinois, experienced a 13-percent decrease, a loss of 100 jobs.
The recovering housing market, as well as a strong demand for health care, energy and higher education facilities, boosted construction spending by more than 7 percent for the year through November. However, construction spending was still more than $300 billion below peak levels due to decreasing public sector activity and less demand for office, retail and lodging.
Construction employment figures are available by state and rank.