Construction Employment Sees Muted Job Gains in May

by David Flaherty | 26 June 2025 4:05 pm

Construction employment increased in 33 states and the District of Columbia in May from a year earlier, while 27 states added construction jobs between April and May, according to a new analysis[1] of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). AGC officials noted construction employment gains in the industry have been muted amid questions about a range of federal labor, tax, and trade policies.

“Construction has been in a holding pattern for several months, with gains in a small majority of states,” says Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Uncertainty over tariffs, immigration, federal funding, taxes, and other policy shifts is causing many types of projects to be put on hold across the country.”

Between May 2024 and May 2025, 33 states and D.C. added construction jobs, 16 states shed jobs, and employment was unchanged in Connecticut. Texas[2] added the most construction employees (28,600 jobs or 3.4 percent), followed by Ohio (17,000 jobs, 6.9 percent), Michigan (10,400 jobs, 5.3 percent), Florida (9,900 jobs, 1.5 percent), and New Mexico (9,100 jobs, 17.2 percent). New Mexico had the largest percentage gain over 12 months, followed by Idaho (10.1 percent, 7,200 jobs), Kentucky (7.1 percent, 6,600 jobs), West Virginia (7.1 percent, 2,400 jobs) and Ohio.

California lost the most construction employment during the past 12 months (-13,800 jobs, -1.5 percent), followed by Washington (-11,200 jobs, -5.0 percent), New York (-6,800 jobs, -1.7 percent), New Jersey (-4,600 jobs, -2.8 percent), and Massachusetts (-4,000 jobs, -2.3 percent). The largest percentage loss was in Washington, followed by New Jersey, Massachusetts, Oregon (-2.3 percent, -2,700 jobs), and Arkansas (-2.2 percent, -1,500 jobs).

For the month, construction employment increased in 27 states and D.C., declined in 21 states, and was unchanged in New Hampshire and Wisconsin. Michigan added the most construction jobs (4,300 jobs or 2.1 percent), followed by Washington (3,100 jobs, 1.5 percent), Missouri (2,200 jobs, 1.5 percent), Texas (2,200 jobs, 0.3 percent), and New Mexico (1,600 jobs, 2.6 percent). The largest percentage gain occurred in Montana (3.9 percent, 1,400 jobs), followed by Alaska (3.8 percent, 700 jobs), New Mexico, Michigan, and Idaho (1.7 percent, 1,300 jobs).

Virginia and California experienced the largest decline in construction jobs from April to May, (-1,900 jobs, -0.8 percent) and (-1,900 jobs, -0.2 percent), respectively. This was followed by Oregon (-1,700 jobs, -1.5 percent), Georgia (-1,400 jobs, -0.6 percent), and Minnesota (-1,100 jobs, -0.8 percent). Vermont lost the highest percentage of jobs for the month (-1.9 percent, -300 jobs), followed by Oregon, Arkansas (-1.4 percent, -900 jobs), Rhode Island (-1.3 percent, -300 jobs), and Virginia.

Source URL: https://www.metalconstructionnews.com/news/construction-employment-may-2025/

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