Construction spending across the five boroughs set an all-time record in 2016 and also reached its highest annual level in decades, even after adjusting for inflation, according to a New York Building Congress (NYBC) analysis of multiple data sources.
The NYBC estimates that a total of $42.4 billion was spent on construction projects in New York City last year, up from $41.2 billion in direct construction spending in 2015 and $32.4 billion in 2014. After adjusting for inflation, 2016 spending topped this century’s previous high-water mark, set in 2007, by about 1 percent.
NYBC also analyzed the extent to which the current building boom continues to reverberate throughout the local economy. The $42.4 billion spent on direct construction last year generated an estimated $66.3 billion in total economic output, up from $64.9 billion in 2015 and $51.5 billion in 2014.
Of the $66.3 billion in total economic output in 2016, NYBC attributes $12.1 billion to the indirect impact of construction, which includes all employment and income generated by businesses that service the industry, such as architectural, engineering, legal, and other firms. Another $11.8 billion is attributable to the induced impact of construction, which is the result of workers and suppliers spending their wages on local consumer purchases, such as clothing, food, and transportation.
This represents a multiplier effect of $1.56, as each dollar spent on construction yielded an additional $.56 in overall economic activity.
Construction also played a role in the creation of nearly 349,000 local jobs in 2016. In addition to the 208,000 men and women employed directly by the design, engineering, and construction industry, last year’s activity produced another 141,000 jobs throughout New York City’s economy. Approximately 70,000 jobs were created in fields that service the construction industry, such as lawyers, accountants, and suppliers. Still another 71,000 jobs were induced by the increased household earnings that resulted from direct construction and the related expansion of economic activity.
“The construction industry continued to fire on all cylinders in 2016, which has extremely positive short- and long-term implications for New York City and the region,” said NYBC president and CEO Carlo A. Scissura. “In addition to being a catalyst for jobs, tax revenues, and heightened quality of life, a thriving construction industry generates enormous ripple effects that are felt by residents throughout the five boroughs and sows the seeds for continued economic growth.”
Non-residential
Non-residential construction, which includes office space, institutional development, sports/entertainment venues, and hotels, produced the most in direct spending and economic output last year. Activity in this sector led to a total 2016 economic output of $25.2 billion, including $17.1 billion from direct spending, $3.4 billion of indirect output, and $4.7 billion from induced effects. This sector produced $17.9 billion in direct construction spending and $26.3 billion in total economic output in 2015. In 2014, non-residential construction was responsible for $10.1 billion in direct spending and $14.9 billion in economic output.
Government
Government construction spending, which includes investments in mass transit, roads, bridges, and other essential infrastructure, reached $12.7 billion last year, up from $8.1 billion in 2015 and $10.3 billion in 2014. Last year’s spending stimulated $3.3 billion in indirect and $3.5 billion in induced output for a total economic impact of $19.5 billion, which is up from $12.5 billion in 2015 and $15.9 billion in 2014.
Residential
Residential construction yielded $12.6 billion in direct spending and $21.6 billion in economic output in 2016, down from $15.2 billion and $26.1 billion in 2015. In 2014, the residential sector accounted for $12.0 in direct construction spending and $20.7 billion in economic output. Prior to 2014, residential spending had never reached $7 billion in any single year.
“The numbers confirm what we’ve been hearing from our members – the current building boom is being driven by all three main construction sectors, which is really important,” Scissura said. “It means that there’s a lot of work available for all industry firms and tradespeople, no matter their specialty. Just as importantly, it indicates that the builders of housing and infrastructure are working to keep pace with the growing demands of the city’s businesses and residents.”
