The number of open positions in the construction sector increased in September per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The current level of open jobs is down from three years ago due to declines in construction activity, particularly in housing. Nonetheless, strength in construction in subsectors like data center construction is creating demand for construction workers. Further, increasing immigration enforcement actions are having an effect on worker availability, which is also contributing to upward pressure for the number of open positions.
The number of open jobs for the overall economy increased in September, rising to 7.5 million. The September reading was higher than a year ago (7.17 million). The September data revealed a rise in job openings across many sectors of the U.S. economy as economic growth remains solid.
The number of open construction sector jobs increased in September, rising from 262,000 in August to 298,000 in September. This total is higher than the total from a year ago (206,000). The chart below notes a declining trend for the construction job openings rate from 2023 to 2025 (after Fed tightening of monetary policy) followed by a recent rising trend for open positions in construction, albeit with significant month to month volatility.
While home building employment has declined over the last year, other sectors of the construction industry have expanded (e.g. data center construction). The industry also faces challenges in terms of no-shows at work sites related to immigration enforcement.
The construction job openings rate increased to 3.4% in September and is up from 2.4% a year ago.
The construction hiring rate increased to 4.3% in September, up from the 4.1% rate estimated a year ago.
The layoff rate in construction was 1.6% in September. The quits rate posted a notable rise in September, increasing to 2.4%. There were 198,000 total quits in that month, compared to 127,000 a year ago.
