The construction industry recorded 305,000 job openings at the end of June, up 14,000 from May and 81,000 (36%) higher than a year earlier, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu said the increase comes despite declining residential and nonresidential construction spending. He noted that contractors remain optimistic about future hiring but continue to face a persistent shortage of skilled labor as experienced workers retire. Replacing veteran workers with less experienced employees—and ongoing workforce availability challenges—may also be contributing to elevated job openings.
Visit abc.org/economics for the Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index, plus analysis of spending, employment, job openings and the Producer Price Index.
Associated Builders and Contractors is a national construction industry trade association established in 1950 with 67 chapters and 24,000 members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC helps members offer a robust employee value proposition, develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work. Visit us at www.abc.org.
