Construction employment rose in 245, or 68 percent, of 358 metro areas between August 2023 and August 2024, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials noted that construction firms are boosting pay faster than in other sectors in an effort to attract even more workers into the industry.
“More than two-thirds of metro areas have added construction workers in the past year,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Nevertheless, many contractors say they cannot find enough qualified workers to fill their open positions, even though industry wages are rising faster than in other sectors.”
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