After hitting a 5-year low at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction industry is booming. An average of 135,500 building permits were issued in the months of Q1 2021, compared to only 96,000 in April of 2020, according to the Census.
In spite of the pandemic, there were a total of 1,415,600 building permits issued in the U.S. in 2020: the highest number of building permits issued since 2007.
As we enter a post-COVID world, it’s worth examining which cities are poised for explosive growth in residential markets – and where construction workers are in demand and paid a respectable wage.
We looked at four factors to rank each of the 49 most populous metros in the U.S.:
Opportunity: How many building permits were authorized recently?
Demand: How many construction workers are employed in this area relative to permits?
Pay: How much will a construction worker make in this area?
Cost of living: How expensive is it to live in this area?
Key Insights
Six out of 10 of the top cities for construction workers are in the South due to a boom in building permits and a relatively low cost of living
Three out of the top five cities for construction workers are in Texas: Dallas, Houston, and Austin are quickly growing
Demand for construction workers in these cities is incredibly high, and there’s a notable shortage of laborers in the top cities.
Why Each City Made The List
We took into account the opportunity, demand, pay, and cost of living for each city in our ranking. Let’s take a closer look at why the top 10 cities have booming construction markets with interesting opportunities for construction workers.
Dallas, TX
Houston, TX
Minneapolis, MN
Austin, TX
Phoenix, AZ
Seattle, WA
Philadelphia, PA
Tampa, FL
Jacksonville, FL
Nashville, TN
Why Phoenix?
The Phoenix construction market has exceeded the national U.S. average significantly since 2016, and 2020 was no exception, expanding by 15% and driven by a strong residential market according to a Cumming research report.
Phoenix had the 5th most building permits issued in February, and it still has a significant shortage of construction workers relative to the construction boom it has enjoyed for the last several years.
To read the complete report, visit https://www.ippmagazine.com/research/the-best-cities-for-construction-workers/
