Construction employment on Long Island continues to trend downward, with the region posting its seventh consecutive month of year-over-year job losses, according to new data from the Associated General Contractors of America.
The report shows that Nassau and Suffolk counties lost a combined 5,600 construction jobs between September 2024 and September 2025, a 7% decline. Construction employment across Long Island fell from 83,400 jobs to 77,800 over the 12-month period, ranking as the fourth-largest drop among the 360 metropolitan areas tracked nationwide.
The downturn on Long Island mirrors broader challenges across the New York region. Construction employment in New York City declined by 7% during the same period, with the city shedding 9,900 jobs year over year. New York City’s drop—from 145,000 jobs to 135,100—was the largest construction employment loss of any metro area in the country.
Association officials said the figures highlight uneven demand across construction sectors. While certain project types continue to generate work, others have slowed significantly.
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“The latest data on employment by metro area shows how spotty construction activity has become,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, in a written statement. “Although a few project types, such as data centers, power, and certain infrastructure and manufacturing plants, are booming, many metro areas are experiencing a drop in activity.”
Despite the softness on Long Island and in New York City, several metro areas across the country reported strong gains. The Arlington-Alexandria-Reston, Virginia, area led the nation with 7,900 added construction jobs, a 9% increase. The Washington, D.C., metro area followed with a gain of 6,200 jobs, representing a 13% jump, while the Charlotte, North Carolina, area added 4,400 jobs, a 5% increase.
Other major metro areas also experienced notable declines alongside New York City. The Los Angeles–Long Beach–Glendale area lost 6,100 construction jobs, a 4% drop. Las Vegas followed closely with a loss of 5,700 jobs, or 7%, while the Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario region in California shed 5,600 jobs, a 5% decline.
Industry observers note that sustained demand for industrial facilities and data centers has helped cushion losses in some markets, but weaker activity in commercial, residential, and other segments continues to weigh on employment in regions like Long Island. As 2026 approaches, the data underscores the uneven recovery facing the construction sector across different markets and project types.
Originally reported by David Winzelberg in Libn.
