Reports Says Toledo Metro Area Leads State in Construction Jobs

The Toledo metropolitan area is the state of Ohio’s hotbed for construction jobs, according to a report released by the Associated General Contractors of America.

The report tracked the number of people working in the construction industry from May 2014 to May 2015. During that time frame, the area added 1,300 new construction jobs, bringing its overall total to 13,600 construction jobs.

Ranked as the 32^nd fastest growing region in the nation, the Toledo area saw an 11 percent increase in the number of construction jobs compared to the period of May 2013 to May 2014.

The rise in the number of jobs can be attributed to a “glut of highway reconstruction and bridge work,” according to a recent Toledo Blade article. While the jobs are not all held by union construction workers, the information is encouraging for a region that was hit hard by the 2009 Recession.

Shaun Enright, Executive Secretary of the Northwestern Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, told the Blade that his members have seen a huge increase in infrastructure hours, necessary because of the high amount of unsafe bridges.

In addition to road and bridge projects, the industry is also benefiting from construction at several major health facilities, including ProMedica’s Health and Wellness Center and Mercy Health System’s freestanding emergency room, both located in Sylvania.

Additionally, the Toledo Mud Hens are in the midst of a project called Hensville, a renovation of three vacant buildings next to their ballpark. The project will create retail, restaurant, event, and office space for the organization.

With more construction projects set to begin next year, the market is expected to remain strong for the next several years.

The amount of jobs created in the Toledo area easily outpaced other areas within the state. Ohio’s other metro areas ranked (out of 358) as follows: Cleveland and Youngstown-Warren-Boardman – 48, Columbus – 67, Cincinnati – 139, Lima and Mansfield – 206, Canton-Massillon and Dayton – 266, Steubenville – 315, Springfield – 341, and Akron – 348.