New York’s construction industry lags other states in pandemic recovery
Published on Jul 17, 2025
New York City’s construction industry remains smaller than it was before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to an analysis by the state comptroller. That slow recovery, which lags compared to most other parts of the country, has deprived an immigrant-heavy workforce of well-paying jobs.In 2024, the city averaged a total of 143,100 construction jobs, an 11% decrease from 161,300 in 2019. While the industry has recovered in other parts of the state, the city’s slower recovery means that New York state remains 4% below its 2019 construction employment levels — the second-slowest recovery of any state, behind only West Virginia.The main factor in the sluggish hiring is lagging demand for non-residential construction, according to the report by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, which cites state labor data and information from the New York Building Congress. Although spending on residential projects surpassed its 2019 levels by 2023 — reaching $22.8 billion — nonresidential spending was stuck at $22.2 billion in 2023, 3% lower than in 2019.
New York City’s construction industry remains smaller than it was before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to an analysis by the state comptroller. That slow recovery, which lags compared to most other parts of the country, has deprived an immigrant-heavy workforce of well-paying jobs.In 2024, the city averaged a total of 143,100 construction jobs, an 11% decrease from 161,300 in 2019. While the industry has recovered in other parts of the state, the city’s slower recovery means that New York state remains 4% below its 2019 construction employment levels — the second-slowest recovery of any state, behind only West Virginia.The main factor in the sluggish hiring is lagging demand for non-residential construction, according to the report by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, which cites state labor data and information from the New York Building Congress. Although spending on residential projects surpassed its 2019 levels by 2023 — reaching $22.8 billion — nonresidential spending was stuck at $22.2 billion in 2023, 3% lower than in 2019.
