Construction Hiring Remains Subdued in June

WASHINGTON, DC — The development trade had 246,000 job openings on the final day of June, in line with an Related Builders and Contractors evaluation of information from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled place for which an employer is actively recruiting. Business job openings elevated by 14,000 final month however are down by 39,000 from the identical time final 12 months.

“Whereas industrywide job openings elevated in June, the share of all development positions which can be unfilled stays low by latest requirements,” mentioned ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Extra importantly, the hiring price throughout the first half of 2025 was decrease than throughout the first six months of any 12 months because the begin of the information sequence in 2000. As a result of contractors have additionally been laying employees off at a traditionally sluggish tempo, industrywide employment continues to edge increased, however few job openings and sluggish hiring recommend weak demand for labor.

“That mentioned, these knowledge doubtless mirror the truth that the residential section has struggled mightily this 12 months, whereas nonresidential employment knowledge have been extra upbeat,” mentioned Basu. “Fewer than 14% of ABC members count on their staffing ranges to lower throughout the second half of 2025, in line with ABC’s Construction Confidence Index. This means that the nonresidential aspect of the trade will proceed so as to add jobs throughout the third and fourth quarter of 2025.”