Construction employment remains strong in May in Southern California

The construction rebound continued to boost job growth in Southern California in May.

The number of people working in construction in metro Los Angeles has grown by 10%, or 11,100 jobs, in the last year, according to an analysis of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America. In Orange County, it grew 11%, or 8,500 jobs. Both were among the biggest gains in the country in terms of raw numbers, and near the top of the list of large metro areas on a percentage basis.

The recovering housing market, a surge in apartment building and a spate of new office projects have pushed growth in construction jobs here over the past year, and construction has accounted for about one-eighth of all new jobs created in California since the start of 2013, according to a recent paper by UCLA’s Anderson Forecast.

Still, the building sector is smaller than it was a decade ago. There were 125,1000 workers on construction company payrolls in metro Los Angeles in May, compared with 160,300 at the peak in 2007.

Despite that, some builders are starting to warn of a labor shortage in the construction industry, noting that many workers retired, moved away or switched careers during the economic downturn. Others, however, are optimistic that new training programs will help fill any gaps that develop.

Keep an eye on housing and real estate in Southern California. Follow me at @bytimlogan