The number of open, unfilled construction sector positions has been elevated during 2015.
According to the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey and NAHB analysis, construction sector jobs declined from 168,000 to 153,000 in April from March. However, the 168,000 estimate for March was upwardly revised from a preliminary reading of 147,000.
Construction Jobs, US
On a three-month moving average basis, the open position rate for the US construction sector rose to 2.5 per cent in April, said the BLS survey.
In May, home builders and remodelers added a somewhat reduced number of new jobs, 8,500, on a seasonally adjusted basis after April’s 18,100. Over the last 12 months, the industry has added 149,000 jobs on a net basis.
In May, the unemployment rate for construction workers fell to 7 per cent on a seasonally adjusted basis. It has been on a general decline since reaching a peak rate of 22 per cent in February 2010.