Phoenix area posts second-largest increase in construction jobs in US

PHOENIX — Arizona saw a surge in construction jobs over the past year.

Data showed the Phoenix metro area added almost 10,000 new construction jobs, the second-highest amount across the country and a 9 percent increase from last year.

The Associated General Contractors of America analyzed the number of construction, mining and logging jobs added to each metropolitan area from January 2017 to January 2018.

While the number of jobs added to the Phoenix metro area ranked second in the U.S., the 9 percent increase tied for 55th.

Meanwhile, the Lake Havasu City-Kingman area increased its construction jobs by 16 percent, the best in the state and tied for 15th in the country. 

Overall, construction employment in almost 70 percent of metro areas increased across the nation.

Despite the increase, the association expressed concern over the effects of possible tariffs that President Donald Trump has advocated. The association said that the tariffs would not only increase the cost of construction projects but it could also cause retaliation from other countries, hurting American manufacturers.

“Boosting demand for their products is a much better way to strengthen the domestic steel and aluminum industries,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer.

“And the best way to boost demand is to finally [begin] making the investments needed to improve the nation’s aging and over-burdened infrastructure.”