While more than half of the nation’s metro areas saw a decline in construction jobs since October 2019, both the Kansas City and Springfield regions saw construction employment increases large enough to land them in the top 10 out of 358 metro areas nationwide.
Only 30% of the nation’s metro areas added construction jobs in the past year, according to an analysis of new government data that the Associated General Contractors of America released in early December. Association officials said construction employment in most parts of the country was being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as businesses and local governments curtail planned construction projects.

Construction employment is strong in Springfield and Kansas City
However, construction employment in the Kansas City, Missouri metro increased 12% (gain of 3,700 jobs) over the 12-month measurement
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period, which ties the metro for ninth over all in job-gain percentage. Construction employment in the Springfield, Missouri region increased 15% (gain of 1,400 jobs) since October 2019, which ties the area for fourth in job-gain percentage.

In real numbers, the Kansas City area ranks third in the nation for jobs added, only behind Dallas-Plano-Irving (7,100 jobs gained) and Seattle-Bellevue-Everett (4,700 jobs gained).

“There are several factors contributing to the strong employment numbers in our area,” Don Greenwell, president of The Builders’ Association, said. “Top among them are the thousands of jobs the KCI new airport terminal project has added and the work our industry did to collaborate with local leaders on quickly ensuring construction was designated an essential industry when the pandemic hit.”

Don Greenwell, President of The Builders’ Association

Keeping the construction industry mobilized throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has proven necessary to meeting the needs of local communities and the economy. Construction workers have built, maintained and repaired critical infrastructure, health facilities and data centers, among other projects.

The Kansas City International Airport Single Terminal is a $1.5 billion project, and the largest single infrastructure project in the city’s history. With funding approved and work started prior to the pandemic, work was able to continue on the terminal, while projects across the nation were postponed or canceled as businesses and local government finances were devastated.

Metro construction employment rank chart

At the end of October, 600 workers were on site at the airport terminal project, and in total, the project is expected to create about 5,000 jobs. The project is estimated for completion in 2023.

National outlook not so rosy
Construction employment fell in 209, or 58%, of metro areas between October 2019 and October 2020. Construction employment was stagnant in 40 other metro areas, meanwhile, and only 109 metro areas—30%—added construction jobs during the past year.

Greenwell noted the best way to curtail future construction job losses and continue the region’s strong employment numbers is for Congress to pass new federal coronavirus relief measures, including new infrastructure investments.