Las Vegas lost the most construction jobs of any U.S. city last year, report says

Athletics president Marc Badain, right, talks to members of the news media during construction update of the Athletics ballpark at the former Tropicana site on the Strip in Las Vegas Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal)More StoriesLas Vegas gas prices jump 12 cents in a dayStation Casinos sets pool season opening datesLas Vegas startup joins global AI effort in telecom industryStrip casino-hotel to open new high-end meeting space this year By Patrick Blennerhassett / Las Vegas Review-Journal March 4, 2026 - 6:30 am   Las Vegas lost more construction jobs than anywhere else in the country last year, according to a new report. Data from the Associated General Contractors of America showed the area had the biggest percentage loss, as well as overall numerical loss, of construction jobs out of the largest 360 metro areas in 2025. The valley lost a total of 8,600 jobs (tying with New York for first place), or 11 percent of its overall workforce. This total was down from 79,200 jobs in December 2024 to 70,600 in December and Ken Simonson, the chief economist for the trade group said a number of factors and issues played into this loss for the city. “Nevada is one of five states in which half or more of all construction trades workers in 2024 were foreign-born. That makes the state vulnerable to immigration enforcement actions affecting construction job sites or workers who may choose to leave or avoid job sites,” he said. Nevada has the lowest rate of re...