The number of open positions in the construction sector edged higher in April, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The current level of open jobs is down measurably from three years ago due to declines in construction activity, particularly in housing. Recent gains for nonresidential construction have not fully offset soft conditions for housing with respect to the demand for construction labor.

The number of open jobs for the overall economy surged in April, increasing from 6.89 million in March to 7.62 million. The April reading was also measurably higher compared to a year ago (7.10 million). It will be worth watching next month to see if these preliminary estimates stand, as the data suggests strength for labor demand, particularly in the professional and business service sectors.

The number of open construction sector jobs increased for the month, rising slightly from 234,000 in March to 259,000 in April. This total was higher than the total from a year ago (207,000). The chart below notes a declining trend followed by stability for unfilled construction jobs since the Fed raised the federal funds rate and home building weakened. While home building employment was declining during the second half of 2025, other subsectors of the construction industry have expanded (e.g. data center construction). This has produced volatility within a reduced range in the job openings series since 2024.

The construction job openings rate increased to 3% in April, up from the 2.4% rate estimated a year ago.

The layoff rate in construction declined slightly to 1.5% in April. The quits rate was unchanged at 1.7% for the month.