Scarborough's Construction Economy - Scarborough Living Magazine

By Jim Damicis, Scarborough resident and Senior Vice President, Camoin Associates

Construction is an important part of Scarborough’s economy, providing jobs, business, and investment opportunities. It also creates the infrastructure, buildings, and homes that support community development and enable individuals’ economic aspirations.

Recently, much attention regarding construction has been focused on real estate development and growth. Understandably, there are differing perspectives for and against it. They range from concerns about traffic and the environment to desire for investment and economic opportunity. In this article, I look at what this industry means for Scarborough.

In 2024, 1,723 people were employed at construction businesses in Scarborough. This represents 9% of all jobs, making it Scarborough’s third largest industry behind health care and retail. While impressive, this is actually below its peak employment of 1,806 in 2006. Following that, jobs declined during the Great Recession. The post-2009 recovery was slow but steady through 2020. Then employment dipped again in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, it has resumed its growth, reaching 1,723 workers in 2024.

Between 2019 and 2024, construction jobs in Scarborough grew modestly – just 3%. This was less than elsewhere in Cumberland County (11%), Maine (16%), and the US (8%).

Construction businesses are highly varied. In 2024, the most common types in Scarborough were specialty trade contractors (which employed 514 people), building equipment contractors (480 employees), and residential construction businesses (255 employees). Many businesses operate across multiple sectors, such as those that do both residential and commercial construction.

The employment data above is based on jobs at businesses located in Scarborough. Another way to look at this industry is by the number of Scarborough residents it employs, regardless of their employer’s location. This shows what construction jobs mean for Scarborough residents.

In 2024, carpenters and construction laborers were the most common construction occupations held by Scarborough residents. These were followed by supervisors, painters and paperhangers, plumbers, and electricians.

This industry data reveals the importance of the construction industry to Scarborough’s workers, businesses, and overall economy. Construction is important for many reasons, including as a signal of overall economic performance. Construction activity is among the first industries, along with manufacturing, to indicate changes in the economy. It also supports various types of jobs, including trades, management, real estate, planning, and sales. With the recent push for jobs in the trades, which are non-degree-requiring careers with low barriers to entry, construction offers an excellent opportunity for job seekers and resident workers. It also consists of many small, independent businesses and sole proprietors, which offers a path to business ownership.