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Construction employment declines in most US metro areas despite gains in Texas and Louisiana
ColoradoBiz Staff //June 26, 2026//
Deposit Photos
Deposit Photos
Construction employment declines in most US metro areas despite gains in Texas and Louisiana
ColoradoBiz Staff //June 26, 2026//
In Brief:
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands adds 12,100 construction jobs
- Baton Rouge posts largest percentage gain at 18%
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario loses 6,100 construction jobs
- Associated General Contractors urge Congress to renew transportation funding
WASHINGTON — Construction employment increased in 152 of 360 U.S. metropolitan areas, or 42%, between May 2025 and May 2026, while 161 metro areas lost construction jobs and employment remained unchanged in 47 areas, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of federal employment data.
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Texas, added the most construction jobs over the year with 12,100, a 5% increase. St. Louis added 10,500 jobs, followed by Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with 8,400 jobs. Baton Rouge posted the largest percentage gain at 18%.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California, recorded the largest job loss, shedding 6,100 jobs, or 5%. Lawton, Oklahoma, experienced the largest percentage decline at 21%.
“More metro areas experienced construction job losses than gains in the last 12 months,” Macrina Wilkins, the association’s director of market insights, said. “Even fewer areas are likely to have job increases later this year if Congress fails to renew federal legislation to fund highway and transit construction after the current law expires in September.”
Association officials said contractors continue to face higher material costs, slower demand in some market sectors, and uncertainty about future infrastructure spending.
“Contractors are facing a number of economic and political headwinds that are making it harder to add workers,” Associated General Contractors of America CEO Jeffrey D. Shoaf said. “That is why we are working to educate the public about the economic benefits of transportation and technology infrastructure investments and urging Congress to pass a new transportation bill before the current one expires.”
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