AGC Analysis Shows Half Of All U.S. Metro Areas Added Jobs Over The Past Year

Arlington, VA – Exactly half of the nation’s metro areas added construction jobs between June 2024 and June 2025, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials noted that construction demand appears to be stalled in many parts of the country amid uncertainty about tariff rates and labor availability.

“Construction activity is in a holding pattern in much of the nation,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “As a result, fewer metro areas are experiencing gains in construction employment compared to a year ago.” The construction economist noted that only 180 of the 360 metro areas for which the government posts construction employment data added construction jobs in the latest 12 months, whereas a year ago, there were roughly 35 more areas with gains in construction employment.

For the fourth-straight month, Arlington-Alexandria-Reston, Va.-W.Va. added the most construction jobs (9,100 jobs or 10 percent) between June 2024 and June 2025. In second place again was Cincinnati, Ohio-Ky.-Ind. (5,400 jobs, 11 percent). The top two gainers were followed by Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, Fla. (4,800 jobs, 8 percent); Washington, D.C.-Md. (4,700 jobs, 10 percent); and Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg, Ill. (4,500 jobs, 38 percent). Las Cruces, N.M. again had the largest percentage gain (16 percent or 700 jobs), followed by Mansfield, Ohio (14 percent, 300 jobs); Paducah, Ky.-Ill. (13 percent, 500 jobs); and New Orleans-Metairie, La. (12 percent, 3,000 jobs).

Construction employment declined over the year in 113 metro areas and was unchanged in 67 areas. The largest job loss again occurred in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. (-5,200 jobs, -4 percent), followed by Nassau County-Suffolk County, N.Y. (-4,000 jobs, -5 percent) and three areas with losses of 3,800 jobs each: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif. (-5 percent); Seattle-Bellevue-Kent, Wash. (-3 percent); and Baton Rouge, La. (-7 percent). The largest percentage decrease again occurred in Niles, Mich. (-17 percent, -400 jobs), followed by five areas with declines of 8 percent each: Hanford-Corcoran, Calif. (-100 jobs); Fort Collins-Loveland, Colo. (-900 jobs); Pueblo, Colo. (-300 jobs); Lake Charles, La. (-900 jobs); and Duluth, Minn.-Wis. (-300 jobs).

Association officials said construction demand was being impacted by higher interest rates, uncertainties about potential new tariffs and changes in labor policy that are stalling economic activity in parts of the country. They urged the Trump administration to announce more trade arrangements that provide greater certainty about tariff rates. And they also urged the administration to refocus its immigration efforts on undocumented workers who are engaged in criminal activity.

“Uncertainty about tariff rates and labor availability are holding back private sector demand for construction,” said Jeffrey D. Shoaf, the association’s chief executive officer. “Creating more certainty and avoiding measures that needlessly tighten the labor market should help stimulate new construction demand.”

View the metro employment data by state, by rank and top 10 changes.

About The Associated General Contractors Of America

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is a leading association for the construction industry. AGC represents more than 26,000 firms, including over 6,500 of America’s leading general contractors, and over 9,000 specialty-contracting firms. More than 10,500 service providers and suppliers are also associated with AGC, all through a nationwide network of chapters. To learn more, visit www.agc.org.