US Construction Employment Continued to Grow in September

A closer look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) nonfarm payroll report for September, with a focus on construction and additional analysis provided by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), reveals that job gains in the construction sector continued in September, averaging 20,000 per month over the past 12 months.

Nonresidential construction employment led the way, adding 17,900 jobs, while residential construction gained 7,800 jobs.

Residential construction employment now stands at 3.4 million, broken down as 952,000 builders and 2.4 million residential specialty trade contractors. The 6-month moving average of job gains for residential construction was 3,450 a month. Over the last 12 months, home builders and remodelers added 60,500 jobs on a net basis. Since the low point following the Great Recession, residential construction has gained 1,393,800 positions.

In September, the unemployment rate for construction workers rose to 4.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis. The unemployment rate for construction workers has remained at a relatively lower level, after reaching 15.3% in April 2020 due to the housing demand impact of the pandemic.