Construction Industry Adds 6,000 Jobs in June

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. construction industry added 6,000 jobs in June, according to the July 3 report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, non-residential construction added only 700 of those jobs, and the heavy and civil engineering sector lost 700 jobs.

“Although non-residential construction’s performance is somewhat disappointing, the general tenor of today’s employment report is upbeat. It is worth noting that non-residential construction tends to lag that of the overall economy,” said Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Today’s jobs numbers are largely a reflection of the softer growth recorded by the U.S. economy for much of last year and during the initial months of 2014. Given that the economy added over 200,000 jobs for the fifth consecutive month in June, there is some optimism about improvement in the second quarter; however, the lack of monthly construction employment growth, particularly in the non-residential sector, is troubling.”

Although the national construction unemployment rate stands at 8.2% on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, there are parts of the nation in which unemployment is far lower, Basu added. “In fact, there are emerging shortages of industrial construction workers in growing segments of the south, which will trigger large increases in wages and per diems during the year ahead. By contrast, there are communities in which construction unemployment remains well above the 8.2% average, suggesting that wage inflation will be meaningfully experienced only in certain communities.”

According to the BLS household survey, the national unemployment rate fell to 6.1% in June, reaching its lowest level since September 2008. The civilian labor force expanded by 81,000 in June. Individual sectors saw the following changes:

• Non-residential building construction employment increased by 2,100 jobs for the month, but is up by 22,200 jobs, or 3.3%, since June 2013.

• Residential building construction employment rose by 4,500 jobs in June and is up by 50,600 jobs, or 8.3%, on an annual basis.

• Non-residential specialty trade contractors lost 1,400 jobs for the month, but employment in that category is up by 29,500 jobs, or 1.4%, from the same time last year.

• Residential specialty trade contractors gained 2,100 jobs in June and have added 55,700 jobs, or 3.6%, since June 2013.

• The heavy and civil engineering construction segment lost 700 jobs in June, but job totals are up by 28,300, or 3.2%, on a year-over-year basis.