State-Level Analysis of Construction Sector Employment for May

A closer look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May nonfarm payroll report, with a focus on state-level construction employment (both residential and nonresidential) and additional analysis provided by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), reveals that 26 states reported month-over-month employment gains, while 22 states and the District of Columbia lost construction jobs. The two remaining states—North Dakota and Rhode Island—reported no change.

Overall, the construction industry added a net 21,000 jobs in May. Ohio had the largest increase, adding 7,000 jobs, while Tennessee, on the other end of the spectrum, lost 1,700. In percentage terms, Ohio reported the highest increase at 3.0%, and Maine reported the largest decline at 2.1%.

Year-over-year, construction sector jobs in the US increased by 251,000, up 3.1%. Texas added 35,000 jobs, the largest gain of any state, while Maryland lost 5,000. In percentage terms, Alaska had the highest annual growth at 20.4%, while the District of Columbia reported the largest decline of 3.3%.