New York City has lost the second highest number of construction jobs in the nation in the past year as COVID-19 creates challenges for the construction industry.
Data compiled from the US Department of Labor by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA) indicates that statewide employment declined 10%, or 41,700 jobs. Not surprisingly given its size, New York City counted for the majority of the state’s overall job loss, at 21,700 (representing a 13% decline).
Here is the data by metropolitan area listed by area, industry, employment numbers for August 2019, numbers for Aug. 2020, the 12-month gain or loss, the percentage change and the area’s ranking nationally.
- Statewide Construction 423,700 382,000 -41,700 -10%
- Statewide Mining, Logging, and Construction 429,300 386,800 -42,500 -10%
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy Mining, Logging, and Construction 22,000 21,300 -700 -3% 147
- Binghamton Mining, Logging, and Construction 4,600 3,700 -900 -20% 337
- Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls Mining, Logging, and Construction 23,300 21,900 -1,400 -6% 211
- Dutchess County-Putnam County Div. Mining, Logging, and Construction 9,000 10,200 1,200 13% 5
- Elmira Mining, Logging, and Construction 1,700 1,400 -300 -18% 326
- Glens Falls Mining, Logging, and Construction 2,700 2,400 -300 -11% 278
- Ithaca Mining, Logging, and Construction 1,400 1,200 -200 -14% 306
- Kingston Mining, Logging, and Construction 3,400 3,100 -300 -9% 255
- Nassau County-Suffolk County Div. Mining, Logging, and Construction 86,800 80,000 -6,800 -8% 245
- New York City Mining, Logging, and Construction 162,900 141,200 -21,700 -13% 296
- Orange-Rockland-Westchester Mining, Logging, and Construction 47,000 40,600 -6,400 -14% 306
- Rochester Construction 23,800 23,500 -300 -1% 118
- Syracuse Mining, Logging, and Construction 14,700 13,100 -1,600 -11% 278
- Utica-Rome Mining, Logging, and Construction 3,800 3,100 -700 -18%
- Watertown-Fort Drum Mining, Logging, and Construction 1,900 1,500 -400 -21% 342
Nationally, construction employment decreased in 241, or 67 percent, out of 358 metro areas between August 2019 and last month, AGC reported on Oct. 1. Association officials urged Congress to pass new coronavirus relief measures before leaving town.
“Although residential construction is picking up in many areas, public and nonresidential construction are shrinking,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Project cancellations are spreading, and fewer new projects are starting up. That combination makes further employment declines inevitable unless the federal government steps up support for infrastructure.”
Simonson noted that construction employment was stagnant in 29 metro areas and increased in only 88 areas (25 percent) over the past 12 months. Nineteen metros had all-time lows for August construction employment, while 33 areas had record highs for August, in data going back to 1990 for most areas.
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas lost the most construction jobs over 12 months (-22,800 jobs, -10 percent), followed by New York City (-21,700 jobs, -13 percent). Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Mass. had the largest percentage decline (-38 percent, -2,200 jobs), followed by Johnstown, Pa. (-34 percent, -1,000 jobs).
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Ind. added the most construction jobs from August 2019 to August 2020 (4,800 jobs, 9 percent), followed by Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Md. (4,300 jobs, 5 percent). Niles-Benton Harbor, Mich. had the highest percentage increase (16 percent, 400 jobs), followed by Fond du Lac, Wisc. (15 percent, 500 jobs) and Walla Walla, Wash. (15 percent, 100 jobs).
Association officials urged Congressional leaders to not leave town until after the election without passing much-needed new coronavirus relief measures. In particular, the construction officials called on Congress to pass new liability protections for firms that are taking steps to protect workers from the coronavirus. They also urged Congressional leaders to boost investments in infrastructure and pass measures designed to preserve payrolls.
“The coronavirus and efforts to mitigate its spread have left our economy deeply wounded, depressing demand for many types of commercial construction projects,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “Congress can end the downward economic slide and help create needed new construction jobs by passing measures to boost demand and protect honest employers.”
View the metro employment 12-month data, rankings, top 10, and map.
