New Orleans-Metairie is one of six Louisiana metro areas to experience construction job growth in 2023, according to an annual analysis published this week by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

The New Orleans-Metairie metro area added 1,000 jobs from 28,700 in 2022 to 29,700 by the end of 2023, a 3% growth.
Baton Rouge led the way among Louisiana metro areas with an 18% growth, adding 9,1000 construction jobs, from 49,200 in 2022 to 58,300 in 2023. That growth rate ranked third among the 358 metro areas reported on by the AGC. Sioux Falls, South Dakota, ranked first in 12-month percent growth at 20%, followed by Tulsa, Oklahoma, in second at 19%.

Metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) are designated by the Office of Management and Budget, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports construction employment data.

Elsewhere in Louisiana, Houma-Thibodaux increased 300 construction jobs from 5,300 to 5,600, for a growth rate of 6%; Lafayette increased 500 construction jobs from 10,900 to 11,400, for a growth rate of 5%; Shreveport-Bossier City increased 400 construction jobs from 8,200 to 8,600, for a growth rate of 5%; and Lake Charles increased 300 construction jobs from 12,500 to 12,800, for a growth rate of 2%.

Construction employment increased in 224 of 358 metro areas between December 2022 and December 2023. AGC officials noted that the industry still has nearly 400,000 unfilled positions nationwide, and likely would have added even more jobs if firms could find more qualified workers to hire. The AGC recently launched a “Construction is Essential Workforce Campaign” and “Culture of Care” initiative to both help fill the labor void and retain current workers.

“Even more metro areas would have added workers if they were available,” said Ken Simonson, AGC chief economist. “But there were 374,000 job openings in construction at the end of December according to a separate government report, illustrating the difficulty contractors face in filling positions.”