Jacksonville is the only metropolitan statistical area in Florida to show a rise in construction employment between March and April, the height of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data found Jacksonville MSA construction employment grew by 0.4%, or about 200 jobs, during that period while the 20 other MSAs in Florida lost construction jobs.
WJCT News partner the Jacksonville Daily Record reported construction jobs in the Jacksonville MSA grew from about 45,800 to 46,000. The BLS rounds numbers to the nearest 100.
The Punta Gorda MSA lost 12% of its construction jobs, the largest percentage drop in the state.
“Construction has remained strong during the COVID-19 pandemic in part because local governments in Northeast Florida made quick adjustments that allowed permitting and inspections to continue,” said Northeast Florida Builders Association Executive Officer Bill Garrison.
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