Long Island Construction Law does not own this content. This content was created by David Winzelberg , and was published to the Long Island Business News on August 2nd, 2023. To view the full article, please click here.

Construction employment on Long Island decreased slightly in June, after rising for 10 straight months. Nassau and Suffolk counties lost 1,100 construction jobs from June 2022 to June 2023, a 1 percent year-over-year drop, falling from 83,100 to 82,000, according to a report from the Associated General Contractors of America. 

Regionally, the number of construction jobs in New York City was up 7 percent, gaining 10,200 jobs from June 2022 to June 2023, increasing from 145,300 to 155,500, the second largest jump in the country. 

Construction employment in the Orange/Rockland/Westchester area was flat from June 2022 to June 2023 remaining at 46,200. Between June 2022 and June 2023, construction employment rose in 221 metro areas, declined in 69 metro areas and remained flat in 68 areas, according to the AGCA report. 

Association officials said contractors are still struggling to find qualified workers, adding that the best way to address construction labor shortages was to boost funding for construction training and education programs and to allow more people with construction skills to lawfully enter the country. They added that additional funding for workforce education programs was necessary to offset the massive investment the federal government makes in urging students to pursue college degrees and non-construction careers. 

“Public officials need to embrace an all-of-the-above approach when it comes to addressing severe construction labor shortages,” Stephen Sandherr, the association’s CEO, said in a written statement. “This approach includes supporting more construction education programs and embracing sensible immigration reform policies to allow more people with construction skills to lawfully enter the country.” 

Metro areas adding the most construction jobs over the last year include the Dallas area, which gained 16,300 jobs for a 10 percent rise; the Portland, Ore. area, adding 8,600 for an 11 percent gain; and the northern Virginia area, which added 6,900 jobs for a 9 percent gain. 

The metro areas seeing the largest drops in construction employment from June 2022 to June 2023 include the St. Louis area, which dropped 4,400 jobs for a 6 percent decline; the Miami area, which lost 3,300 jobs for a 6 percent drop; and the Los Angeles area, which dropped 3,000 jobs for a 2 percent decline. 

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.

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Long Island Construction Law does not own this content. This content was created by David Winzelberg , and was published to the Long Island Business News on August 2nd, 2023. To view the full article, please click here.