A new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the U.S. construction industry added 45,000 jobs during the month of April. According to Associated Builders and Contractors, nonresidential construction employment rose by 12,400 jobs in April while nonresidential specialty trade contractors added 20,200 new jobs following a loss of 9,000 jobs in March.
The following is a breakdown of construction employment in April:
• Nonresidential building construction employment fell by 7,800 jobs for the month but is up by 16,600 jobs (2.4 percent) from the same time last year.
• The heavy and civil engineering construction segment added 8,400 jobs in April and employment is up by 33,100 positions (3.6 percent) year-over-year.
• Residential building construction employment expanded by 2,800 jobs in April and is up by 41,200 jobs (6.3 percent) on an annual basis.
• Residential specialty trade contractors added 20,800 net new jobs in April and has added 102,400 jobs (6.8 percent) since April 2014.
• Nonresidential specialty trade contractors added 20,200 jobs for the month and employment in that category is up by 76,400 jobs (3.5 percent) from the same time last year.
Mining and logging lost 15,000 net jobs in April after gaining jobs in every month during 2014. This sector lost more jobs during the first quarter of 2015 (-48,000) than it added in all of 2014.
“While the broader jobs report proved better than expected, April was the best month for construction employment since January 2014,” said Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Though it may have been expected to see solid job creation performance reflected in today’s report, it is still a relief to obtain a nice piece of data. Economic data regarding retail sales, industrial production, and other elements of economic life have largely been disappointing to date and the March jobs report fell in line with that series of uninspired results. Data regarding unemployment claims strongly suggested that employers viewed the recent bout of economic weakness as temporary. The lack of new lay-off activity indicates an ongoing demand for labor and April’s reasonably strong employment gains suggest that many employers continue to search for additional staffing."
Related Stories
Building Team | Jul 5, 2022
Dallas’ Fair Park, home to the State Fair of Texas, will place a park atop a new parking garage
A registered National Historic Landmark, Fair Park is the 227-acre home to the Texas State Fair and various cultural institutions in Dallas, Tex.
Market Data | Jul 1, 2022
Nonresidential construction spending slightly dips in May, says ABC
National nonresidential construction spending was down by 0.6% in May, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Building Team | Jul 1, 2022
How to apply WELL for better design outcomes
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) cites attracting top talent, increasing productivity, and improving environmental, social or governance (ESG) performance as key outcomes of leveraging tools like their WELL Building Standard to develop healthier environments.
Building Team | Jul 1, 2022
Less portable potty, more movable restroom
Some contractors are packing up their portable potties and instead using the H3 Wellness Hub.
Building Team | Jun 30, 2022
Adopting a regenerative design mindset
To help address the current climate emergency, a new way of thinking across the entire architecture, engineering and construction industry is imperative.
Market Data | Jun 30, 2022
Yardi Matrix releases new national rent growth forecast
Rents in most American cities continue to rise slightly each month, but are not duplicating the rapid escalation rates exhibited in 2021.
Headquarters | Jun 30, 2022
Lenovo to build its new global headquarters in Beijing
Washington, D.C.-based architecture and design firm CallisonRTKL has announced it will create the new global headquarters in Beijing for Lenovo Group, a Chinese multinational personal technology company.
Mass Timber | Jun 29, 2022
Mass timber competition: building to net-zero winning proposals
The 2022 Mass Timber Competition: Building to Net-Zero is a design competition to expand the use of mass timber in the United States by demonstrating its versatility across building types and its ability to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment.
Laboratories | Jun 29, 2022
The "collaboratory" brings digital innovation to the classroom
The Collaboratory—a mix of collaboration and laboratory—is a networking center being designed at the University of Denver’s College of Business.
Airports | Jun 29, 2022
BIG and HOK’s winning design for Zurich airport’s new terminal
Two years ago, Zurich Airport, which opened in the 1950s, launched an international design competition to replace the aging Dock A—the airport’s largest dock.