US construction demand still growing despite worker shortage

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That is according to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)’s latest analysis of government data.

The AGC said that demand for infrastructure, manufacturing and data centre projects was continuing to grow in many parts of the country.

However, association officials noted that some companies are choosing not to bid on projects because they lack sufficient staff to fulfil the work.

The urged Congress and US President Joe Biden’s administration to boost construction education funding and training programmes and to implement reforms to the immigration system.

The metropolitan areas to add the most construction jobs over the period were Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario in California and Baton Rouge in Louisiana, which added 6,200 jobs each.

Other areas to record large numerical increases were: Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas (+5,700 jobs); Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona (+5,200 jobs); and Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, Michigan (+5,000 jobs). The largest percentage gain was in Fairbanks, Alaska, with a 27% gain, equivalent to 600 jobs.

The area with the largest job loss was New York City (-7,500 jobs) followed by Minneapolis-St.Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota-Wisconsin (-5,700 jobs), and Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado (-5,600 jobs).

Jeffrey D. Shoaf, the association’s chief executive officer said, “Policy makers spent decades dismantling once-robust construction education programs, so even if Congress acts soon, it is going to take time to reinvigorate them.

“In the meantime, sensible immigration reform measures can allow more people to lawfully enter the country to work in construction and achieve the American dream.”