Construction Job Openings Still Subdued in February

The construction industry had 264,000 job openings on the last day of February, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis 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 22,000 last month but are down by 165,000 from the same time last year.

“Construction industry hiring continued to pick up in February, accelerating to the fastest rate since the first half of 2024,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “However, industrywide job openings remain subdued compared to this time last year. Still, there are signs that construction workers retain outsized leverage compared to their employers. Contractors remain reluctant to lay off workers, while construction workers quit their jobs at the fastest pace since last May.

“With contractors optimistic about expanding their staffing levels over the next six months, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, the pace of hiring should continue to accelerate through the middle of 2025.”