The construction industry added a net 19,000 jobs in September, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Industry employment is up 38,000 jobs over the past year, a 0.5% increase.
Nonresidential construction added 16,300 positions, with gains across all subcategories. Nonresidential specialty trade contractors added 11,100 jobs, heavy and civil engineering added 4,900, and nonresidential building added 300.
The construction unemployment rate rose to 3.8% in September. National unemployment increased to 4.4%, up from 4.3% in August.
The September increase ends a three-month decline in construction employment, though overall job growth has remained weak this year. Residential construction has shown the most softness, and recent spending data suggests nonresidential activity may also be slowing.
Despite modest hiring, wages grew in September, and contractors remain cautiously optimistic. Nearly half of ABC members expect to add staff in the next six months, according to the group’s Construction Confidence Index.
