Report Explores Sectors And Metros Driving Construction Jobs Recovery

Top non-residential construction citiesPosted by Heidi Schwartz

While U.S. construction employment is still behind lofty pre-recession highs, many areas of the industry are reporting steady job growth, according to a new analysis from CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI).

Commercial and industrial building is outpacing residential construction, despite strong growth in remodeling and new housing developments. Heavy and civil engineering construction, however, has been the fastest growing sector since 2011.

Looking at new building construction, commercial building jobs are projected to grow at 4 percent, to about 764,000 jobs, from 2011 to the end of 2014.

“The industry is an important economic bellwether, as growth has positive ripple effects up and down supply chains. Fortunately, we’re seeing significant year-over-year increases in job listings on CareerBuilder across a range of titles, including laborers, building inspectors, carpenters, and operating engineers,” said Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder. 

Industrial building construction jobs are projected to grow 6 percent, outpacing commercial and institutional building construction, which is expected to grow 3 percent. Together, the projected gains total 27,439 new jobs.

Among metro areas with a million or more residents, the top 10 for new non-residential building construction sectors are as follows:

  1. Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
  2. Rochester, NY
  3. New Orleans-Metarie, LA
  4. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
  5. Richmond, VA
  6. Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
  7. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
  8. Kansas City, MO-KS
  9. Austin-Round Rock, TX
  10. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT