Report: 5 metros in region among top US cities for construction workers

Cape Coral-Fort Myers is the top metropolitan area in the United States for construction workers, according to a new report. Trade publication Construction Coverage compiled the report using 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify the percentage of the workforce employed in the construction industry.

Nationwide, about 8.1 million Americans work in construction, accounting for 6.1% of private sector employment, according to Construction Coverage.

In Cape Coral-Fort Myers, 16.2% of the workforce is employed in construction, the publication says, making it the metro area with the highest percentage of construction workers nationwide. It is also the top midsize metro area for construction workers. A midsize metropolitan area has 350,000 to 1 million people, according to the report. 

Two other midsize metros in the region were included among the top 10 midsize cities for construction workers: Naples-Marco Island was No. 5 with 13.1% of the workforce employed in construction, while North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota was No. 7, with 10.3%.

Among small metro areas, Punta Gorda ranked No. 6 for construction workers, with 11% of the workforce holding construction jobs. A small metro area is defined as having a population of fewer than 350,000 people.

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater came in at No. 16 for construction employment among large metros, with 7.1% of the workforce having construction jobs. That is 1% above the national average. A large metropolitan area is defined as having a population of more than 1 million.

The top states for construction workers are Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Louisiana and Montana, according to the report, which ranks Florida No. 13 among states with the highest percentage of construction workers. Statewide, about 7.4% of the workforce in Florida is employed in construction, the report says, accounting for 647,674 construction employees. According to Construction Coverage, the number is up 3.1% over the previous year.

These are the top 20 metros for construction workers nationwide, based on the percentage of the workforce employed in construction, according to the report:

1. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, 16.2%
2. Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas, 15.8%
3. St. George, Utah, 13.5%
4. Greeley, Colorado, 13.4%
5. Corpus Christi, Texas, 13.2%
6. Naples-Marco Island, 13.1%
7. Bozeman, Montana, 12.4%
8. Wildwood-The Villages, 12.4%
9. Lake Charles, Louisiana, 12.2%
10. Provo-Orem-Lehi, Utah, 11.5%
11. Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, 11%
12. Punta Gorda, 11%
13. Farmington, New Mexico, 10.6%
14. Farbanks-College, Alaska, 10.5%
15. Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Washington, 10.4%
16. North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, 10.3%
17. Homosassa Springs, 10.3%
18. Ogden, Utah, 10.2%
19. Panama City, Panama City-Beach, 10.2%
20. Boise City, Idaho, 10.1%