State-Level Analysis of Construction Employment in November

An in-depth look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) November jobs report, with a focus on state-level construction employment and additional analysis provided by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), reveals that construction sector jobs—including both residential and nonresidential construction—increased month-over-month in 27 states, declined in 20 states and the District of Columbia, and was unchanged in Alaska, Georgia, and Louisiana.

Texas reported the largest increase in construction jobs, adding 9,200, while New York reported a loss of 5,200. Overall, the construction industry added a net 2,000 jobs in November compared to the previous month. In percentage terms, Oklahoma reported the highest increase at 2.7%, and Ohio reported the largest decline at 1.5%.

Year-over-year, NAHB analysis shows construction sector jobs in the US increased by 200,000, a 2.6% increase compared to the November 2022 level. Texas added 35,700 jobs, the largest gain of any state; conversely, New York lost 6,300 construction sector jobs. In percentage terms, Kentucky had the highest annual growth rate in the construction sector at 14.5%, while North Dakota reported a decline of 8.2%.