Construction employment rose in 215, or 60 percent, of 358 metro areas between June 2023 and June 2024, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials noted that while demand for certain types of construction is soft, overall construction activity remains robust and firms are still having a hard time finding workers to hire.
“High interest rates and rising vacancies have depressed construction of developer-financed projects such as apartments, offices, and warehouses in some markets,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Nevertheless, strong demand for data centers, manufacturing and power projects, and infrastructure is keeping employment on the upswing in a majority of metros.”
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