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Trump's Tariffs Could Hurt More Local Economies Than They Help

Only a small number of regions employ many steel and aluminum workers, and economically depressed areas the proposal aims to benefit could experience hardship in other industries.

Carbon Cap Lawsuit
The Nucor Steel plant in Seattle.
(AP/Elaine Thompson)
President Trump’s announcement of tariffs on imported steel and aluminum last week was greeted with praise from American steelworkers who have witnessed the slow decline of their industry over several decades.

But the proposal, if implemented, is expected to significantly raise the cost of the two metals, carrying potential consequences for local economies across the country.

The most recent Labor Department employment estimates show only a select few regions would receive a boost from increased domestic aluminum and steel production. A much larger number of economies, however, are closely tied to industries likely to be hit by steeper costs.

Local officials and economists that Governing interviewed expressed unease about the tariffs' possible effects on their economies. “We’re quite concerned about this,” says Detroit Regional Chamber President Sandy Baruah. “These global supply chains are so tightly integrated, and they are price-sensitive.”

Trump’s proposal calls for a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum. Further details are unclear, but Trump on Monday floated the possibility of canceling the tariffs if a new NAFTA agreement deemed to be fair to the U.S. is reached. Failing that, administration officials indicated the president could sign the tariffs later this week or next week, despite strong opposition from congressional leaders.

Two segments of the economy tracked in the Labor Department’s Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages most certain to benefit are "iron and steel mills" and aluminum production. They collectively accounted for 139,000 jobs as of June 2017, or about 0.1 percent of the nation’s workforce. The American Iron and Steel Institute pegs total employment for the entire steel industry at 140,000.

Businesses in the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio, metro area, cheered Trump's announcement. The blue-collar region, a traditionally Democratic stronghold before Trump carried it in 2016, had the highest concentration of jobs nationally in the two industries identified in federal employment data. “There’s a feeling of hope in Youngstown,” says Regina Mitchell, who co-owns two steel businesses. “This generation has watched all the jobs go to the wayside.”

Mitchell anticipates that a lower volume of available steel would drive up prices, advancing her steel wholesale business. 

The Chicago metro area, which includes several steel mills in northern Indiana, recorded about 17,000 steel and aluminum jobs last year -- the highest tally in terms of raw numbers.

Still, only a handful of areas are home to more than a couple thousand employees working in such facilities. That’s largely because machines and automation have enabled companies to maintain production levels with far slimmer payrolls than before.  



 

Metro areas shown reported the most jobs in two industry classifications most likely to benefit from tariffs. SOURCE: BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, June 2017 data for NAICS 3311 and 3313
 
Many of the same economically depressed regions eagerly anticipating the expansion of steel mills, however, could experience negative ripple effects from higher prices in other areas of their economies.

For example, metal fabricators and businesses purchasing raw materials from nearby plants would likely contend with higher prices. The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International, issued a statement emphasizing that tariffs would put jobs and job creation at risk. According to Labor Department data, these jobs are heavily concentrated in places like Sheboygan, Wisc.; Elkhart, Ind.; and other parts of the industrial Midwest. 

There’s no indication so far that tariffs would also apply to finished goods, meaning fabricators and manufacturers would incur higher purchasing costs than foreign competitors are subject to. This concerns Mitchell, who says leaving out manufactured finished goods from any tariffs could yield unintended consequences for her other business specializing in fabricating and machining. “We’re going to be at a greater disadvantage as a manufacturer because we will only have access to the higher cost steel,” she says.

One large segment of the economy that’s most liable to see production costs rise is auto manufacturing. “If prices go up for final assembled automobiles, that’s going to have a downward pressure on sales, which will have downward pressure on employment,” Baruah of the Detroit Regional Chamber says.

Further down the supply chain, auto parts manufacturers employ nearly 600,000 workers nationwide. Higher metal costs could carry potential ramifications for a place like Kokomo, Ind., where these employers account for a huge portion -- 30 percent -- of the metro area’s workforce.

Associations representing numerous industries have largely denounced the proposed tariffs, warning of potential cuts to jobs or wages.

It’s difficult to approximate what the eventual effects of any tariffs might actually be, though, partially because further details on the proposed tariffs haven’t yet been announced. Much of the steel used in Detroit’s manufacturing facilities is imported from Canada, for example. Baruah says he’ll be watching for whether Canada is excluded from any tariffs and, if not, how the country responds.

The Trade Partnership, a consulting firm, published a report estimating that the tariffs would increase metals industry employment by about 33,000 jobs -- but lead to the elimination of 179,000 jobs in other industries.

Machinery manufacturers would likely similarly see costs rise under the tariffs. Many smaller regions rely significantly on these jobs, such as Caterpillar in Peoria, Ill., or John Deere in the Waterloo–Cedar Falls, Iowa, metro area. 

Nicole Crain of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry expressed concern over what the tariffs might mean for the state’s small localities supported by large agriculture equipment manufacturers. "In a lot of places, these are the best jobs in those areas,” she says, “They’re really the lifeblood of the community.”

Crain more broadly worries that the tariffs could hinder trade. In 2016, the state’s exports totaled $12.1 billion.

Higher metal costs could further be passed along to the construction sector. Oil and gas companies, too, purchase large quantities of steel for infrastructure. Louisiana economist Loren Scott told The Advocate that he’s worried some energy companies might rethink plans for large-scale construction projects in the state that aren’t yet underway if costs increase.

Other industries where high steel and aluminum costs could prove to be more taxing include aerospace, shipbuilding and manufacturers of electrical equipment and appliances.

While steel and aluminum prices would climb, those effects would pale in comparison to a potential trade war. Those fears roiled global markets in the days following Trump’s announcement and prompted pushback from several world leaders.

Many employers in Seattle, where Boeing’s large manufacturing facility is located, likely would incur higher purchasing costs if tariffs are imposed. But with about 40 percent of local jobs tied to international trade, city officials are even more concerned about the prospect of a trade war.

“When we think about international relationships being put at risk, we have to ask what that means for our workforce and attracting talent,” says Rebecca Lovell, director of the city's office of economic development.

The Seattle region is served by a major shipping port. Several major tech companies there, too, do business around the world. “With everything from aircrafts to apples, it could have an incredible ripple effect,” Lovell says.

 

Metro Area Employment Data

The following large industries are among those most likely to be affected by higher steel and aluminum prices. Employment totals, current as of last June, are shown for metro areas with more than 1,000 workers. The location quotient represents the concentration of jobs in a region, with higher values meaning an industry’s share of jobs is higher than that of the national economy. Some metro areas not listed may employ more than 1,000 workers in these industries, but the Labor Department did not publish estimates for them.

 

Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing

Employers in this classification transform metals into products or treat already fabricated metals. It excludes machinery, computers, electronics and metal furniture.



Metro Area Industry Employment Jobs Location Quotient
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 65,855 1.47
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 64,180 1.09
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 48,358 1.69
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 34,974 1.84
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 34,207 0.37
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 28,787 0.85
Cleveland-Elyria, OH 27,118 2.69
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI 22,034 2.68
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 19,871 0.75
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 19,041 0.7
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT 15,721 2.55
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 15,004 0.78
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 14,519 0.57
Pittsburgh, PA 14,256 1.29
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 14,144 1
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN 13,914 1.35
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 13,646 2.51
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 12,663 1.1
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 12,148 0.63
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 10,427 0.97
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 9,914 0.42
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 9,724 0.4
Sheboygan, WI 8,795 14.17
Elkhart-Goshen, IN 8,356 6.29
Kansas City, MO-KS 8,163 0.8
Knoxville, TN 7,997 2.16
Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN 7,704 1.22
Canton-Massillon, OH 7,286 4.42
Rockford, IL 7,182 5.02
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 7,179 0.51
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 7,154 0.78
New Haven-Milford, CT 7,151 1.97
Rochester, NY 7,013 1.39
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY 6,982 1.29
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 6,857 0.48
Akron, OH 6,714 2.1
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 6,637 0.54
Dayton, OH 6,624 1.82
Worcester, MA-CT 6,235 1.63
Birmingham-Hoover, AL 6,234 1.29
Springfield, MA 6,171 2.27
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC 5,670 1.48
Lancaster, PA 5,663 2.4
Oklahoma City, OK 5,348 0.91
Baton Rouge, LA 5,277 1.41
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA 5,177 2.47
Salt Lake City, UT 5,145 0.74
Memphis, TN-MS-AR 5,059 0.84
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA 4,975 1.99
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL 4,433 1.61
York-Hanover, PA 4,333 2.48
Ogden-Clearfield, UT 4,160 1.66
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 4,062 0.31
Toledo, OH 3,941 1.36
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA 3,919 1.22
Greensboro-High Point, NC 3,878 1.13
Erie, PA 3,869 3.19
Austin-Round Rock, TX 3,826 0.39
Wausau, WI 3,797 5.37
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ 3,789 1.08
Fort Wayne, IN 3,705 1.8
Green Bay, WI 3,692 2.13
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 3,689 0.38
Winston-Salem, NC 3,669 1.45
Lynchburg, VA 3,649 3.76
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 3,348 0.11
Richmond, VA 3,344 0.53
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 3,323 0.29
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 3,278 0.78
Manchester-Nashua, NH 3,229 1.61
Columbia, SC 3,186 0.86
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 3,183 2.02
Peoria, IL 3,060 1.84
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI 3,013 2.3
Lafayette, LA 2,987 1.56
Syracuse, NY 2,963 0.99
Tucson, AZ 2,861 0.81
Appleton, WI 2,841 2.33
Raleigh, NC 2,805 0.47
Stockton-Lodi, CA 2,743 1.12
Jackson, MI 2,638 4.67
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL 2,632 1.46
Lansing-East Lansing, MI 2,552 1.23
Muskegon, MI 2,536 3.97
San Juan-Carolina-Caguas, PR 2,511 0.41
Huntsville, AL 2,508 1.16
St. Joseph, MO-KS 2,496 4.53
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA 2,468 1.06
Racine, WI 2,351 3.15
Colorado Springs, CO 2,314 0.84
Portland-South Portland, ME 2,303 0.84
Reading, PA 2,268 1.34
Utica-Rome, NY 2,201 1.8
Longview, TX 2,192 2.37
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV 2,117 0.22
El Paso, TX 2,067 0.7
Spartanburg, SC 2,058 1.44
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI 2,052 1.48
Reno, NV 2,047 0.91
Modesto, CA 1,990 1.07
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI 1,933 2.07
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA 1,929 0.41
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL 1,907 0.94
Boise City, ID 1,903 0.62
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 1,879 0.42
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI 1,857 2.92
St. Cloud, MN 1,852 1.77
Battle Creek, MI 1,842 3.32
Fresno, CA 1,820 0.47
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC 1,772 1.19
Lewiston, ID-WA 1,767 6.34
Odessa, TX 1,757 2.54
Eau Claire, WI 1,679 2.06
Dubuque, IA 1,669 2.87
Montgomery, AL 1,636 1
Columbus, IN 1,634 3.23
Roanoke, VA 1,627 1.08
Saginaw, MI 1,600 1.92
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA 1,600 0.5
Janesville-Beloit, WI 1,593 2.39
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA 1,574 1.14
Grand Island, NE 1,535 3.62
Ocala, FL 1,532 1.55
Mobile, AL 1,501 0.9
Lincoln, NE 1,468 0.85
Greeley, CO 1,447 1.39
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL 1,436 0.77
Decatur, AL 1,378 2.65
Charleston-North Charleston, SC 1,375 0.42
Cedar Rapids, IA 1,366 0.96
Sherman-Denison, TX 1,359 2.99
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL 1,350 0.65
Mansfield, OH 1,323 2.66
Ann Arbor, MI 1,323 0.65
Salem, OR 1,304 0.75
Binghamton, NY 1,291 1.3
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC 1,282 0.77
Jefferson City, MO 1,243 1.66
Joplin, MO 1,222 1.6
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL 1,220 2.8
Bakersfield, CA 1,195 0.37
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN 1,158 1.56
Terre Haute, IN 1,128 1.73
Elmira, NY 1,113 3.17
Decatur, IL 1,093 2.24
Springfield, OH 1,083 2.26
Lebanon, PA 1,069 2.17
Flint, MI 1,022 0.76
Topeka, KS 1,015 0.95
Florence, SC 1,010 1.24
Pueblo, CO 1,009 1.67
Eugene, OR 1,008 0.66
Corpus Christi, TX 1,005 0.54
NOTE: The Labor Department did not publish data for some areas not shown.
SOURCE: BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, June 2017 employment data for NAICS 332.
 

Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

Major areas of employment in this industry classification includes auto and auto parts manufacturing, aerospace and shipbuilding.

Metro Area Industry Employment Jobs Location Quotient
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA 85,619 3.83
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA MSA 61,626 0.91
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX MSA 50,078 1.27
Elkhart-Goshen, IN MSA 35,949 23.35
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN MSA 28,230 2.64
Wichita, KS MSA 27,547 8.35
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA 25,795 3
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN MSA 23,792 1.99
St. Louis, MO-IL MSA 23,026 1.52
Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN MSA 22,009 3.01
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA MSA 19,941 1.21
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI MSA 19,257 0.37
Kansas City, MO-KS MSA 17,128 1.45
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ MSA 16,925 0.76
Toledo, OH MSA 15,457 4.61
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN MSA 14,995 1.31
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA MSA 14,688 0.5
Columbus, OH MSA 14,055 1.2
Cleveland-Elyria, OH MSA 13,438 1.15
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA MSA 12,615 0.46
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX MSA 12,206 1.07
Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS MSA 12,118 7.15
Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA 12,038 3.16
Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA 11,714 3.82
Kokomo, IN MSA 10,683 23.09
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA 10,585 0.8
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL MSA 9,697 0.34
Ogden-Clearfield, UT MSA 9,409 3.24
Knoxville, TN MSA 9,333 2.17
Lansing-East Lansing, MI MSA 8,362 3.47
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA 8,313 0.51
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN MSA 8,108 7.87
Portland-South Portland, ME MSA 8,022 2.51
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO MSA 7,926 0.48
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA MSA 7,813 0.07
Jackson, MS MSA 7,335 2.48
Montgomery, AL MSA 6,988 3.68
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA 6,794 0.51
Battle Creek, MI MSA 6,588 10.24
Mobile, AL MSA 5,896 3.04
Flint, MI MSA 5,836 3.76
Tulsa, OK MSA 5,335 1.1
Oklahoma City, OK MSA 5,231 0.77
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX MSA 5,044 0.15
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA MSA 4,927 2.03
Bowling Green, KY MSA 4,911 5.83
Columbus, IN MSA 4,639 7.92
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI MSA 4,563 0.48
Jacksonville, FL MSA 4,483 0.6
Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA 4,254 1.53
Waco, TX MSA 4,193 3.16
Birmingham-Hoover, AL MSA 4,172 0.75
Ann Arbor, MI MSA 4,091 1.73
York-Hanover, PA MSA 3,993 1.97
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL MSA 3,832 1.63
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA MSA 3,768 4.75
Erie, PA MSA 3,467 2.46
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY MSA 3,426 5.39
Terre Haute, IN MSA 3,393 4.48
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA MSA 3,278 0.29
Clarksville, TN-KY MSA 3,261 3.29
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ MSA 3,213 0.79
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI MSA 3,126 2.06
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC MSA 3,123 1.24
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA 3,067 0.91
Jackson, MI MSA 3,003 4.58
Springfield, OH MSA 2,954 5.32
Lima, OH MSA 2,941 5.02
Salt Lake City, UT MSA 2,678 0.33
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI MSA 2,669 1.66
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI MSA 2,620 0.12
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA 2,570 0.17
New Orleans-Metairie, LA MSA 2,533 0.41
Houma-Thibodaux, LA MSA 2,440 2.56
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA 2,422 1.4
Asheville, NC MSA 2,416 1.12
Winston-Salem, NC MSA 2,407 0.82
Madison, WI MSA 2,353 0.54
Columbia, SC MSA 2,352 0.55
Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA 2,279 0.33
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL MSA 2,251 4.46
Pittsburgh, PA MSA 2,142 0.17
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH MSA 2,079 1.43
Reading, PA MSA 2,076 1.06
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR MSA 2,043 0.54
Rochester, NY MSA 1,961 0.33
Boise City, ID MSA 1,951 0.55
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL MSA 1,937 0.61
Mansfield, OH MSA 1,912 3.31
Port St. Lucie, FL MSA 1,912 1.22
Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA 1,867 2.81
Muskegon, MI MSA 1,774 2.4
Gainesville, GA MSA 1,703 1.74
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA MSA 1,696 0.41
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA 1,694 0.81
New Haven-Milford, CT MSA 1,630 0.39
Springfield, MO MSA 1,609 0.7
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA 1,596 0.69
Racine, WI MSA 1,534 1.77
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL MSA 1,531 1.22
Wichita Falls, TX MSA 1,463 2.21
Owensboro, KY MSA 1,463 2.42
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA 1,462 0.04
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI MSA 1,432 1.94
Muncie, IN MSA 1,362 2.61
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA MSA 1,297 1.28
Roanoke, VA MSA 1,237 0.71
El Paso, TX MSA 1,232 0.36
Rome, GA MSA 1,216 2.73
Austin-Round Rock, TX MSA 1,207 0.11
Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA MSA 1,177 1.78
Danville, IL MSA 1,175 3.81
Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA MSA 1,159 2.5
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA MSA 1,105 0.3
Bellingham, WA MSA 1,087 1.05
NOTE: The Labor Department did not publish data for some areas not shown.
SOURCE: BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, June 2017 employment data for NAICS 336.
 

Machinery Manufacturing

Metro Area Industry Employment Jobs Location Quotient
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI MSA 110,834 5.03
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA 85,619 3.83
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA MSA 61,626 0.91
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX MSA 50,078 1.27
Elkhart-Goshen, IN MSA 35,949 23.35
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN MSA 28,230 2.64
Wichita, KS MSA 27,547 8.35
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA 25,795 3
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN MSA 23,792 1.99
St. Louis, MO-IL MSA 23,026 1.52
Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN MSA 22,009 3.01
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA MSA 19,941 1.21
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI MSA 19,257 0.37
Kansas City, MO-KS MSA 17,128 1.45
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ MSA 16,925 0.76
Toledo, OH MSA 15,457 4.61
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN MSA 14,995 1.31
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA MSA 14,688 0.5
Columbus, OH MSA 14,055 1.2
Cleveland-Elyria, OH MSA 13,438 1.15
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA MSA 12,615 0.46
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX MSA 12,206 1.07
Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS MSA 12,118 7.15
Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA 12,038 3.16
Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA 11,714 3.82
Kokomo, IN MSA 10,683 23.09
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA 10,585 0.8
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL MSA 9,697 0.34
Ogden-Clearfield, UT MSA 9,409 3.24
Knoxville, TN MSA 9,333 2.17
Lansing-East Lansing, MI MSA 8,362 3.47
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA 8,313 0.51
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN MSA 8,108 7.87
Portland-South Portland, ME MSA 8,022 2.51
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO MSA 7,926 0.48
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA MSA 7,813 0.07
Jackson, MS MSA 7,335 2.48
Montgomery, AL MSA 6,988 3.68
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA 6,794 0.51
Battle Creek, MI MSA 6,588 10.24
Mobile, AL MSA 5,896 3.04
Flint, MI MSA 5,836 3.76
Tulsa, OK MSA 5,335 1.1
Oklahoma City, OK MSA 5,231 0.77
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX MSA 5,044 0.15
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA MSA 4,927 2.03
Bowling Green, KY MSA 4,911 5.83
Columbus, IN MSA 4,639 7.92
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI MSA 4,563 0.48
Jacksonville, FL MSA 4,483 0.6
Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA 4,254 1.53
Waco, TX MSA 4,193 3.16
Birmingham-Hoover, AL MSA 4,172 0.75
Ann Arbor, MI MSA 4,091 1.73
York-Hanover, PA MSA 3,993 1.97
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL MSA 3,832 1.63
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA MSA 3,768 4.75
Erie, PA MSA 3,467 2.46
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY MSA 3,426 5.39
Terre Haute, IN MSA 3,393 4.48
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA MSA 3,278 0.29
Clarksville, TN-KY MSA 3,261 3.29
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ MSA 3,213 0.79
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI MSA 3,126 2.06
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC MSA 3,123 1.24
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA 3,067 0.91
Jackson, MI MSA 3,003 4.58
Springfield, OH MSA 2,954 5.32
Lima, OH MSA 2,941 5.02
Salt Lake City, UT MSA 2,678 0.33
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI MSA 2,669 1.66
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI MSA 2,620 0.12
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA 2,570 0.17
New Orleans-Metairie, LA MSA 2,533 0.41
Houma-Thibodaux, LA MSA 2,440 2.56
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA 2,422 1.4
Asheville, NC MSA 2,416 1.12
Winston-Salem, NC MSA 2,407 0.82
Madison, WI MSA 2,353 0.54
Columbia, SC MSA 2,352 0.55
Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA 2,279 0.33
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL MSA 2,251 4.46
Pittsburgh, PA MSA 2,142 0.17
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH MSA 2,079 1.43
Reading, PA MSA 2,076 1.06
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR MSA 2,043 0.54
Rochester, NY MSA 1,961 0.33
Boise City, ID MSA 1,951 0.55
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL MSA 1,937 0.61
Port St. Lucie, FL MSA 1,912 1.22
Mansfield, OH MSA 1,912 3.31
Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA 1,867 2.81
Muskegon, MI MSA 1,774 2.4
Gainesville, GA MSA 1,703 1.74
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA MSA 1,696 0.41
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA 1,694 0.81
New Haven-Milford, CT MSA 1,630 0.39
Springfield, MO MSA 1,609 0.7
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA 1,596 0.69
Racine, WI MSA 1,534 1.77
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL MSA 1,531 1.22
Owensboro, KY MSA 1,463 2.42
Wichita Falls, TX MSA 1,463 2.21
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA 1,462 0.04
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI MSA 1,432 1.94
Muncie, IN MSA 1,362 2.61
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA MSA 1,297 1.28
Roanoke, VA MSA 1,237 0.71
El Paso, TX MSA 1,232 0.36
Rome, GA MSA 1,216 2.73
Austin-Round Rock, TX MSA 1,207 0.11
Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA MSA 1,177 1.78
Danville, IL MSA 1,175 3.81
Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA MSA 1,159 2.5
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA MSA 1,105 0.3
Bellingham, WA MSA 1,087 1.05
NOTE: The Labor Department did not publish data for some areas not shown.
SOURCE: BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, June 2017 employment data for NAICS 333.
 

Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction

Jobs in this category include construction of utility systems, pipelines, power generation, communication systems, land subdivisions, roads and bridges.

Metro Area Industry Employment Jobs Location Quotient
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX MSA 45,931 2.23
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA MSA 23,891 0.57
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI MSA 19,521 0.61
Baton Rouge, LA MSA 18,232 6.77
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL MSA 14,197 0.8
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ MSA 13,244 0.96
Pittsburgh, PA MSA 12,699 1.6
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA 12,490 1.23
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH MSA 11,991 0.63
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA 11,742 0.85
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA MSA 11,303 0.67
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA 10,227 1.17
Austin-Round Rock, TX MSA 9,678 1.38
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA 8,843 0.93
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI MSA 8,735 0.64
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL MSA 8,726 1.04
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX MSA 8,356 1.18
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI MSA 7,134 0.52
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA MSA 6,860 0.67
Columbus, OH MSA 6,690 0.92
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN MSA 6,446 0.91
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA MSA 5,971 0.86
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA 5,714 1.07
Richmond, VA MSA 5,602 1.24
Corpus Christi, TX MSA 5,547 4.13
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV MSA 5,472 0.8
Oklahoma City, OK MSA 5,410 1.28
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA 5,383 0.65
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX MSA 4,888 4.32
Raleigh, NC MSA 4,845 1.12
Tulsa, OK MSA 4,389 1.45
Bakersfield, CA MSA 3,880 1.68
Salt Lake City, UT MSA 3,640 0.73
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI MSA 3,590 0.61
Cleveland-Elyria, OH MSA 3,469 0.48
Greeley, CO MSA 3,425 4.56
Albuquerque, NM MSA 3,424 1.29
Urban Honolulu, HI MSA 3,094 0.93
Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA 3,087 1.31
Odessa, TX MSA 2,986 5.99
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT MSA 2,845 0.64
Anchorage, AK MSA 2,688 2.17
Akron, OH MSA 2,636 1.15
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA MSA 2,596 1
Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA 2,564 0.59
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL MSA 2,540 1.28
Madison, WI MSA 2,408 0.89
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA 2,394 0.75
Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA 2,384 1.25
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL MSA 2,379 1.35
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR MSA 2,362 1
Boise City, ID MSA 2,262 1.03
Ogden-Clearfield, UT MSA 2,197 1.22
Rochester, NY MSA 2,115 0.58
Fresno, CA MSA 2,072 0.75
Roanoke, VA MSA 2,039 1.89
Jackson, MS MSA 2,030 1.11
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA 2,025 1.65
San Juan-Carolina-Caguas, PR MSA 2,024 0.46
Toledo, OH MSA 1,981 0.95
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC MSA 1,943 0.71
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA MSA 1,909 1.93
Houma-Thibodaux, LA MSA 1,879 3.18
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI MSA 1,848 0.47
St. Cloud, MN MSA 1,830 2.43
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA 1,821 1.01
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH MSA 1,777 1.97
Fargo, ND-MN MSA 1,734 1.77
York-Hanover, PA MSA 1,728 1.37
Mobile, AL MSA 1,715 1.42
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC MSA 1,709 1.43
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY MSA 1,687 0.43
Greensboro-High Point, NC MSA 1,650 0.67
Farmington, NM MSA 1,642 4.8
Colorado Springs, CO MSA 1,637 0.82
College Station-Bryan, TX MSA 1,569 2.09
Billings, MT MSA 1,559 2.57
New Haven-Milford, CT MSA 1,551 0.59
Reno, NV MSA 1,538 0.95
Salem, OR MSA 1,535 1.23
Tucson, AZ MSA 1,422 0.56
Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS MSA 1,407 1.34
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA MSA 1,396 0.78
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ MSA 1,370 1.47
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA MSA 1,359 1.59
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL MSA 1,357 0.93
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA 1,346 0.91
Portland-South Portland, ME MSA 1,345 0.68
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT MSA 1,331 0.44
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL MSA 1,331 0.99
Stockton-Lodi, CA MSA 1,320 0.75
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA MSA 1,319 0.57
Lincoln, NE MSA 1,318 1.06
Santa Rosa, CA MSA 1,313 0.89
Syracuse, NY MSA 1,296 0.6
Port St. Lucie, FL MSA 1,243 1.27
Fort Collins, CO MSA 1,220 1.07
Ocala, FL MSA 1,213 1.7
Longview, TX MSA 1,201 1.8
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL MSA 1,197 0.99
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL MSA 1,174 1.23
Asheville, NC MSA 1,140 0.85
Springfield, MA MSA 1,129 0.58
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC MSA 1,108 0.71
Fairbanks, AK MSA 1,068 4.09
Topeka, KS MSA 1,062 1.38
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA MSA 1,012 0.67
NOTE: The Labor Department did not publish data for some areas not shown.
SOURCE: BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, June 2017 employment data for NAICS 237.
 

Support Activities for Water Transportation

Jobs in this category include port operations, marine cargo handling and shipping navigation.

Metro Area Industry Employment Jobs Location Quotient
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX MSA 9,065 4.95
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA MSA 6,293 1.07
Savannah, GA MSA 3,713 34.65
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA 3,521 7.44
Houma-Thibodaux, LA MSA 3,153 60.04
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA 2,595 3.09
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA MSA 2,459 1.64
Jacksonville, FL MSA 2,291 5.6
Baton Rouge, LA MSA 1,875 7.84
San Juan-Carolina-Caguas, PR MSA 1,821 4.62
Urban Honolulu, HI MSA 1,112 3.75
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA 1,058 1.44
NOTE: The Labor Department did not publish data for some areas not shown.
SOURCE: BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, June 2017 employment data for NAICS 4883.
 

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