Construction Employment Sees Nearly 3% Increase Since August 2022

Nonfarm payroll employment climbed in 33 states and the District of Columbia in August, while it decreased in 17 states.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, total nonfarm payroll employment climbed by 187,000 in August, following a 157,000 increase in July.

In the year ending in August, 3.1 million jobs were added, indicating that the labor market had recovered more than fully.

Except for Mississippi and Rhode Island, every other state and the District of Columbia created jobs over the previous year. The gains ranged from 402,000 jobs added in Texas to 1,400 jobs added in Vermont.

Mississippi shed 700 jobs, while Rhode Island shed 6,900 jobs year over year.

In percentage terms, Nevada increased by 3.9%, while Rhode Island fell by 1.4% over the previous year.

Year over year, construction jobs in the United States increased by 212,000 (2.7%).

Texas added 21,100 construction jobs, while Missouri lost 2,700.

Wyoming had the highest annual growth rate (13%) in the construction sector, while North Dakota experienced a 3.8% decline.

When compared to the previous month, the construction industry added a net 22,000 jobs in August.

In this Eye on Housing piece, NAHB Associate Vice President for Forecasting and Analysis Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington breaks down monthly data.