The construction industry had 326,000 job openings on the last day of July, according to an analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting.
Industry job openings increased by 28,000 month over month in July and were up by 21,000 from the same time last year.
“The construction job opening rate rose to the highest level in nearly two years in July,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Contractor hiring also accelerated for the month, while layoff activity slowed. This meaningful improvement in labor demand is a function of insatiable demand for data centers and the accompanying strength in power-related construction.
“With contractors broadly optimistic about expanding their staffing levels over the next six months, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, it’s possible that re-emerging worker shortages will put upward pressure on labor costs over the next several months.”
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.
About Associated Builders and Contractors
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) 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.
 of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), up 28,000 month over month and up by 21,000 from the same time last year.){kind=link}