The construction industry had 236,000 job openings on the last day of January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of data released in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position an employer actively recruits. Industry job openings increased by 31,000 in January, but are down by 171,000 from the same time last year.
“While construction job openings remained subdued in January, industry-wide labor force churn increased meaningfully,” says ABC chief economist Anirban Basu. “Both hires and separations, including layoffs, discharges, and quits, accelerated to the fastest rate since the first half of 2024. Yes, recent construction spending data and investor caution in the face of volatile trade policy represent a cause for concern, but nearly six in 10 contractors expect their staffing levels to grow over the next several months, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index. That, along with healthy industry-wide job growth in February, suggests job openings should continue to trend higher in the coming months.”