New York and Seattle lead metros in loss of construction jobs in April

摘要

Construction employment declined in more than nine out of 10 metro areas from March to April, a time when industry employment typically increases in most locations, according to an analysis of employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, by the Associated General Contractors of America, Arlington, VA. "The employment report shows how few areas were left unscathed by April's unprecedented job losses," said Ken Simonson, the associations chief economist, in the press release. "Sadly, our latest survey shows project cancellations are escalating, making further job losses inevitable unless there is funding for widespread new projects." Simonson said construction employment declined between March and April in 326 out of 358 metro areas - 91% - and increased in only 20 areas (6%). Industry employment was unchanged in 14 areas. New York City lost the largest number of construction jobs: 75,900 jobs, or 49%, of the March total. There were also extremely large construction job losses in the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA, area, with 44,200 jobs (-41%). Construction employment fell by half or more in Montgomery County-Bucks County-Chester County, PA (-54%, -27,200 jobs); and Warren-Troy-Farming-ton Hills, MI (-52%, -26,100 jobs).