Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Construction Coverage.
In recent years, the financial commitment from the federal government to rebuild and expand critical American infrastructure has been a boon for the construction industry. However, the construction industry faces a major labor shortage.
Construction employment recovered after a brief but steep round of layoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, hiring in the sector has plateaued while construction spending has continued to grow.
Despite labor shortages at the national level, some states have seen substantial growth in construction hiring. Many of these construction job gains can be attributed to population growth and demand for more residential housing in these areas.
At the metropolitan level, there is a strong positive correlation between the overall health of the local economy and construction-specific job growth. In general, locations with the most total employment growth were more likely to have strong construction job growth, while metros suffering from job losses were more likely to cut back on construction hiring.
To determine the locations with the biggest increase in construction jobs, researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For more information, see the methodology section at the end.
Following is a breakdown of construction job growth for major U.S. metropolitan areas.
15. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Percentage change in construction employment (2018-2023): +5.3%
- Percentage change in total employment (2018-2023): +7.9%
- Total change in construction employment (2018-2023): +2,720
- Total construction employment (2023): 54,000
- Median annual wage for construction workers (2023): $48,740
14. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
- Percentage change in construction employment (2018-2023): +7.1%
- Percentage change in total employment (2018-2023): -2.3%
- Total change in construction employment (2018-2023): +4,510
- Total construction employment (2023): 68,240
- Median annual wage for construction workers (2023): $74,940
13. Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI
- Percentage change in construction employment (2018-2023): +7.9%
- Percentage change in total employment (2018-2023): -5.5%
- Total change in construction employment (2018-2023): +1,460
- Total construction employment (2023): 19,880
- Median annual wage for construction workers (2023): $54,310
12. Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Percentage change in construction employment (2018-2023): +8.7%
- Percentage change in total employment (2018-2023): +4.1%
- Total change in construction employment (2018-2023): +3,480
- Total construction employment (2023): 43,520
- Median annual wage for construction workers (2023): $59,520
11. Rochester, NY
- Percentage change in construction employment (2018-2023): +8.8%
- Percentage change in total employment (2018-2023): -4.1%
- Total change in construction employment (2018-2023): +1,590
- Total construction employment (2023): 19,630
- Median annual wage for construction workers (2023): $58,880
10. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
- Percentage change in construction employment (2018-2023): +10.7%
- Percentage change in total employment (2018-2023): +8.7%
- Total change in construction employment (2018-2023): +5,930
- Total construction employment (2023): 61,510
- Median annual wage for construction workers (2023): $47,430
9. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
- Percentage change in construction employment (2018-2023): +12.6%
- Percentage change in total employment (2018-2023): +6.5%
- Total change in construction employment (2018-2023): +5,970
- Total construction employment (2023): 53,350
- Median annual wage for construction workers (2023): $64,280
8. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Percentage change in construction employment (2018-2023): +14.3%
- Percentage change in total employment (2018-2023): +7.6%
- Total change in construction employment (2018-2023): +7,890
- Total construction employment (2023): 63,170
- Median annual wage for construction workers (2023): $47,590
7. Raleigh-Cary, NC
- Percentage change in construction employment (2018-2023): +15.0%
- Percentage change in total employment (2018-2023): +11.6%
- Total change in construction employment (2018-2023): +4,250
- Total construction employment (2023): 32,670
- Median annual wage for construction workers (2023): $49,160
6. Columbus, OH
- Percentage change in construction employment (2018-2023): +16.1%
- Percentage change in total employment (2018-2023): No significant change
- Total change in construction employment (2018-2023): +4,830
- Total construction employment (2023): 34,800
- Median annual wage for construction workers (2023): $61,880
5. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
- Percentage change in construction employment (2018-2023): +19.0%
- Percentage change in total employment (2018-2023): +9.8%
- Total change in construction employment (2018-2023): +9,120
- Total construction employment (2023): 57,080
- Median annual wage for construction workers (2023): $58,910
4. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX
- Percentage change in construction employment (2018-2023): +19.9%
- Percentage change in total employment (2018-2023): +20.1%
- Total change in construction employment (2018-2023): +8,780
- Total construction employment (2023): 52,890
- Median annual wage for construction workers (2023): $48,150
3. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
- Percentage change in construction employment (2018-2023): +25.7%
- Percentage change in total employment (2018-2023): +11.4%
- Total change in construction employment (2018-2023): +23,880
- Total construction employment (2023): 116,950
- Median annual wage for construction workers (2023): $54,080
2. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN
- Percentage change in construction employment (2018-2023): +29.0%
- Percentage change in total employment (2018-2023): +11.0%
- Total change in construction employment (2018-2023): +9,330
- Total construction employment (2023): 41,500
- Median annual wage for construction workers (2023): $49,260
1. Salt Lake City, UT
- Percentage change in construction employment (2018-2023): +30.9%
- Percentage change in total employment (2018-2023): +12.7%
- Total change in construction employment (2018-2023): +10,380
- Total construction employment (2023): 44,000
- Median annual wage for construction workers (2023): $54,430
Methodology
The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
To determine the locations with the biggest increase in construction jobs, researchers at Construction Coverage calculated the percentage change in construction employment between 2018 and 2023. Only changes which were statistically significant at a 90% confidence interval were reported.
Researchers also calculated the percentage change in total employment, total change in construction employment, and the median annual wage for construction workers in 2023.
