Construction Job Openings Rise to 298,000 in September
Job openings in the U.S. construction industry increased in September, reaching 298,000 positions, up from 262,000 in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The latest figures also represent an increase from 206,000 openings recorded a year earlier. The construction job openings rate rose to 3.4%, compared with 2.4% in September 2025, signaling renewed demand for workers despite ongoing challenges in residential construction.
According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), construction job openings remain below levels recorded three years ago, reflecting reduced building activity, particularly in the housing sector. However, expanding construction activity in other sectors, including data centers, continues to drive demand for skilled labor. NAHB also noted that increased immigration enforcement has affected worker availability, adding pressure to an already constrained construction workforce.
The construction hiring rate increased to 4.3% in September, up from 4.1% a year earlier, while the layoff rate stood at 1.6%. Meanwhile, the quits rate climbed to 2.4%, with approximately 198,000 workers voluntarily leaving their positions, compared with 127,000 in September 2025. The findings highlight continued volatility in construction labor markets as the industry navigates shifting demand and workforce availability.
