ARTICLE
Overall, the construction industry added 7,000 net new jobs in September, according to data released earlier this month by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has expanded by 156,000 jobs, an increase of 2.1 percent. Nonresidential construction employment increased by 3,800 jobs on net in September and is up by 96,300 net jobs during the last 12 months. Job gains were split between nonresidential specialty trade and heavy and civil engineering, which added 3,000 and 2,400 net new positions, respectively. Nonresidential building lost 1,600 jobs last month and is down 8,400 jobs for the year. The construction unemployment rate stood at 3.2 percent in September, down 0.9 percentage points from the same time last year. Unemployment across all industries was 3.5 percent in September, 0.2 percentage points lower than the previous month. This was the lowest recorded rate since December 1969. --AWCI