Long Island construction employment jumped 13 percent in 2018

Nassau and Suffolk counties gained about 10,100 construction jobs between December 2017 and December 2018, according to numbers put out by the Associated General Contractors of America. That represents a 13 percent increase, which brings the total number of those employed in construction for both counties to 89,700, Long Island Business News reported. Local gains matched a nationwide trend that saw 273 metropolitan areas expand construction employment, according to the Arlington, Virginia-based AGC. The trade association found that another 48 metro areas remained steady, while 37 saw declines. New York City, a hot spot for construction hiring, added 2,900 construction jobs over the same period, a 2 percent rise from the year before. Texas saw some of the largest gains in the country, with Houston adding 19,400 jobs and Dallas bringing on 17,700. Phoenix (16,200 jobs) and Orlando (11,400 jobs) also saw sizeable gains. In California, the areas around Anaheim (-2,800) and San Diego (-1,900) saw some of the nation’s steepest declines, along with Honolulu (-1,500). All three regions, however, only experienced drops of 5 percent or lower, according to the AGC. [LIBN]