In a time period when only one-third of metros in the country added construction jobs, the Phoenix area led the pack for job growth in the industry.
According to data from the Associated General Contractors, in the 12-month period that ended in November 2020, only 34% of U.S. metros gained construction jobs. Around the country, many contractors have had to lay off large numbers of employees after finishing a big job because the pandemic has created uncertainty and unwillingness for some companies to commit to new projects. In 57% of metros, construction employment fell during the 12-month period and remained stagnant in 33%.
The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metro area saw an increase of 4,700 construction-related jobs, an increase of 3%.
While the growth topped the nation overall for the time period, it is much smaller than historic gains for that time period in previous years. During the time period that ended November 2019, the Phoenix metro gained 6,600 new construction jobs, and in the period that ended in November 2018, the metro added 17,500, according to AGC data.
