News in end use


Open Construction Job Positions Near 2-year High in April

A closer examination of The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for April 2021, with additional analysis provided by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), reveals that the count of open construction jobs increased in April to 357,000 unfilled positions.

Labor Shortages Slow Business Growth in May

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), reported today (6-8-21) that the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell -.02 points in May to a reading of 99.6. In May, there was a slight pause in the recovery of small business optimism after steadily improving from January through April 2021. In May a record-high number of business owners (48%) reported unfilled job openings.

Buyers Reluctance to Purchase Homes Reported in Fannie Mae’s May Home Purchasing Sentiment Index

According to the latest Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index® (HPSI), only 35% of consumers believe now is a good time to buy a home. The HPSI increased by 1.0 points in May to a reading of 80.0. Four of the six HPSI’s components increased month-over-month, most notably the components related to personal finance, as consumers reported a much greater sense of job security and improved household income compared to the same time last year.

Construction Sector Employment Declines by 20,000 in May

A deeper dive into the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) total nonfarm payroll employment report for May, with an emphasis on the construction sector, reveals that total nonfarm payroll increased by 559,000 and the unemployment rate declined by -0.3 point to 5.8% percent. However, employment in the overall construction sector declined by -20,000 in May, following a revised decrease of 5,000 jobs in April.