Cincinnati is One of the Nation's Fastest Growing Construction Job Markets

CINCINNATI AREA IS ONE OF THE NATION’S FASTEST GROWING CONSTRUCTION JOB MARKETS AS REGION ADDS MORE JOBS THAN ALL BUT ONE OTHER AREA THIS YEAR

Area Construction Employment Grows by 11 Percent Between June 2024 and June 2025 as Local Firms Add 5,800 Jobs, Construction Groups Outline Steps to Recruit More People into High-Paying Construction Careers
 
The Cincinnati metro added more new construction jobs during the past year than every metro area in the U.S. except for one, despite widespread labor shortages for the industry, according to an analysis released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. As local construction firms expand their payrolls, the national association and its local chapters are taking steps to recruit the next generation of construction workers while pushing for more federal workforce development support, officials noted.
 
“As demand for construction grows here and in many other parts of the country, more firms are having a difficult time finding enough qualified workers,” said Brian Turmail, the national spokesman for the Associated General Contractors of America. “Yet contractors in Cincinnati are showing the rest of the industry that there are ways to recruit more people into construction.”
 
Turmail noted that the Cincinnati metro area added 5,800 construction jobs between June 2024 and June 2025, an 11 percent increase. The area added more construction jobs than all but one of the 360 metro areas the association tracks and at a faster rate than all but 4 of those metros. There were 60,200 people working in construction in the Cincinnati area in June, up from 54,400 in June 2024.

“The Cincinnati MSA’s impressive job growth begins with the fact that we are building like crazy here in the Cincinnati region. Put simply, more projects require more people” said Jordan Vogel, Executive Director of Allied Construction Industries (ACI) and AGC Cincinnati, a division of ACI. Vogel added, “And the reason we’re able to tackle our workforce challenges so successfully is because here in Cincinnati, our relationships mean everything. Meaning, employers don’t just wait for trade associations like ACI and AGC Cincinnati to solve all their workforce issues. They actively partner with us on our workforce development efforts, creating a force multiplier effect that results in the positive growth numbers we’re celebrating today.”
 
The construction official said the Cincinnati area was not alone when it comes to adding construction jobs. Nationwide, 180 metro areas added construction jobs during the past year, including the Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo areas. But Turmail cautioned that 80 percent of construction firms in Ohio report having a hard time finding qualified workers, according to a survey the association released earlier this year.
 
“Ohio’s dramatic rise from the bottom ten to a national leader in the construction industry is no accident—it’s the result of strong leadership, smart investment, and an unwavering commitment to growth,” said Dan Edwards, the CEO of AGC of Ohio.  “As the #1 state in the Midwest for business and a top-five performer nationally, Ohio has become a beacon for major projects, global investment, and world-class infrastructure. This momentum is not only transforming our economy but also creating unprecedented opportunities for our contractors, our communities, and our future.”
 
Although construction is expanding in half of the country, Turmail noted that firms are having difficulty filling positions because many older workers are retiring and too few young adults are considering high-paying careers in construction. Adding to the challenge, 80 percent of federal workforce development dollars are used to encourage people to pursue four-year college degrees, instead of careers in fields like construction. He said this was a shame, since construction jobs pay, on average, nearly $36 an hour and tight labor conditions make it relatively easy for job seekers to find career opportunities in the industry.
 
The spokesman noted the association is taking a range of steps to attract more people into construction careers. This includes launching targeted digital advertising campaigns to recruit new workers. The association has also launched a program, called Culture of Care, that is designed to help firms retain newly hired workers. And the association has convened four construction industry workforce conferences to share tips about effective workforce development programs from across the country.
 
He added that the association is pushing Congress to boost training funding in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act expected to pass later this year and to double funding for the Perkins Act, which funds high school programs that expose students to careers like construction. Turmail noted that the national association’s efforts are designed to complement the workforce development initiatives being taken by its local chapters, the AGC of Ohio, the Ohio Contractors Association and the AGC Cincinnati, a division of the Allied Construction Industries.
 
 
###