Construction Jobs Increase YOY in Most Metros in April According to AGC Analysis

Construction employment increased in 192, or 53%  of 360 metro areas between April 2025 and April 2026, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) of  the latest employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov).
Association officials said growing pushback against the construction of data centers and the potential failure of Congress to pass a new highway and transit bill soon could pose a threat to construction employment levels.
“While it is encouraging to see a majority of metros adding construction jobs, the growth is uneven and fragile,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, in the press release. “Given how much construction today is being driven by new data centers and infrastructure, the growing backlash to data center construction has the potential to disrupt the industry’s fragile job growth.”

Top metros in YOY employment gains

Between April 2025 and April 2026, 192 metro areas added construction jobs, 117 lost jobs, and employment was unchanged in 51 areas. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX added the most construction jobs year-over-year (YOY) (8,900 jobs or +4%); followed by St. Louis, MO-IL. (7,300 jobs, +9%); Baton Rouge, LA (6,500 jobs, +13 %); Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, N.C.-S.C. (5,900 jobs, +7%) and Columbus, OH (5,700 jobs, +10%).
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL had the largest percentage gain (+17%, 1,700 jobs); followed by three areas with +13% increases: Baton Rouge; Eau Claire, WI (500 jobs) and Kankakee, IL (200 jobs). In addition, there were +12% increases in Bloomington, IN (400 jobs) and Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH (600 jobs).

Metros losing the most construction jobs YOY

Construction employment declined in 117 metro areas and was flat in 51 areas during the past year. The largest job loss occurred in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA. metro division (-5,000 jobs, -3%); followed by Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA (-4,700 jobs, -6%); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA. (-4,500 jobs, -4 %); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (-4,100 jobs, -5%); and the Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA division (-3,500 jobs, -3%). The steepest percentage loss occurred in Lawton, OK. (-26%, -500 jobs); followed by Fairbanks-College, AK (-18%, -500 jobs); and Monroe, MI. (-9%, -200 jobs).
AGC noted growing local opposition to data center construction has the potential to disrupt one of the relatively few growth areas for the construction industry.
When you consider that electrical contractors historically account for 13% of all construction jobs and each electrical contractor employee is worth $78,775 in estimated sales potential, any dramatic changes in overall construction employment has a direct impact on a local market’s sales  potential.