State-Level Analysis of Construction Sector Employment for February

A closer look at the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics total nonfarm payroll report, with a focus on state-by-state construction employment and additional analysis provided by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), reveals that across the 48 states reporting construction sector jobs data (both residential and non-residential), 31 states reported month-over-month employment gains in February, while 17 states lost construction sector jobs. The remaining three—South Carolina, Vermont, and the District of Columbia—reported no change.

Overall, the construction industry added a net 23,000 jobs month-over-month in February. Texas led the way with 7,800 new construction jobs, while California lost 9,600. In percentage terms, Alaska reported the highest increase at 4.9%, while Minnesota reported a 2.3% decline.

Year-over-year, construction sector jobs increased by 215,000, a 2.7% increase compared to the February 2023 level. Texas led the way, adding 32,000 construction jobs, while New York posted a loss of 19,000. In percentage terms, Alaska had the highest annual growth rate in the construction sector, increasing 15.6%, while North Dakota recorded a 5.7% decline over the same time period.