United States Construction Labour Market Shows Mixed Signals

United States Construction Labor Market Shows Mixed Signals

UNITED STATES: United States construction labour market showed mixed trends in August 2026, with job openings falling by 48,000 to 251,000, although remaining 38,000 above the level recorded a year earlier, according to BLS JOLTS data. Construction layoffs also declined to 99,000, the lowest since the series began in 2000. The contrasting trends reflect weakness in residential construction alongside strong demand from data centre projects, which is increasing competition for skilled workers. Contractors are facing shortages in trades such as electrical and HVAC, potentially driving higher labour costs. Non-residential contractors, meanwhile, expect staffing levels to increase over the coming six months.

Source: Contractor