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Construction employment on Long Island saw a year-over-year increase in December, while the number of New York City construction jobs declined, according to a new report from the Associated General Contractors of America. 

Nassau and Suffolk counties gained 3,600 construction jobs from Dec. 2023 to Dec. 2024, a 5 percent year-over-year increase, rising from 79,500 to 83,100, the AGCA reports. It marked Long Island’s 10th consecutive month of construction employment gains. 

Regionally, the number of construction jobs in New York City was down 7 percent, losing 9,700 jobs from Dec. 2023 to Dec. 2024, falling from 139,700 to 130,000, which was the largest year-over-year drop in construction jobs out of the country’s 358 metro areas that AGCA tracked for that period. 

Construction employment in the Orange/Rockland/Westchester area dropped by 4 percent, losing 1,800 jobs from Dec. 2023 to Dec. 2024, falling from 45,500 to 43,700, the AGCA reported. 

Nationally, construction employment rose in 244 of 358 metro areas, between Dec. 2023 and Dec. 2024, while it declined in 63 metro areas and was unchanged in 51 areas, according to AGCA and new government employment data. 

Association officials cautioned, however, that most firms reported having a hard time finding enough qualified workers to hire even before the new Trump administration began stepped-up deportation efforts and curtailed work authorizations, among other measures. 

“Construction firms are doing all they can to recruit and retain as many workers as possible to keep pace with demand,” Jeffrey Shoaf, AGCA CEO, said in a written statement. “But it is hard when the government discourages students from pursuing those careers and won’t let many people enter the country to lawfully work in construction but wants to build a lot of things.” 

Metro areas adding the most construction jobs over the last year include the Houston area, which added 15,200 jobs for a 6 percent increase; the northern Virginia area, which gained 6,900 jobs for an 8 percent gain; and the Orlando, Fla. area, gaining 6,100 jobs for a 7 percent rise. 

Besides New York City, the metro areas seeing the largest drops in construction employment from Dec. 2023 to Dec. 2024 include the Phoenix area which lost 5,100 jobs for a 3 percent decline; the Portland area, which lost 4,400 jobs for a 5 percent drop;  and the Anaheim, Calif. area, which lost 4,100 jobs for a 4 percent drop. 

 John Caravella Esq., is a construction attorney and formerly practicing project architect at The Law Office of John Caravella, P.C., representing architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, and owners in all phases of contract preparation, litigation, and arbitration across New York and Florida. He also serves as an arbitrator to the American Arbitration Association Construction Industry Panel. Mr. Caravella can be reached by email: John@LIConstructionLaw.com or (631) 608-1346.