According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) and NAHB analysis, the number of open construction sector jobs for November, seasonally adjusted, rose to 145,000. The November level marks the 3rd highest total of unfilled jobs in construction during the post-recession period.
Rising Number of Open Jobs in Construction
On a three-month moving average basis, the open position rate for the construction sector increased to 2.13 per cent in November. Over the last year, the open construction jobs rate has typically been higher than the rates that were experienced during the 2001-2003 period prior to the building boom.
The sector hiring rate, as measured on a three-month moving average basis, declined in November to 5 per cent, after a significant rise during the summer.
Monthly employment data for December 2014 indicate that total employment in home building/remodeling stands at 2.343 million, broken down as 677,000 builders and 1.666 million residential specialty trade contractors.
In December, home builders and remodelers added 13,500 jobs to the residential construction sector on a seasonally adjusted basis. Over the last 12 months, the industry has created 132,000 jobs.