Construction Unemployment Rate Drops to 6.2% in November

Arlington, VA, December 7, 2015—Construction firms added 46,000 workers in November for the biggest monthly gain in employment for the sector since January 2014, as the industry's unemployment rate declined to 6.2%, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Association officials noted that the robust job gains come as demand for construction continues to expand and new federal transportation legislation will further boost employment in the sector.

Construction employment totaled 6,490,000 in November, the most since January 2009, and is up by 259,000 jobs compared to a year ago, a 4.2% increase. Residential construction increased by 32,100 in November and by 128,100, or 5.4%, compared to a year ago. Nonresidential construction employers added 13,900 jobs for the month and 131,200 jobs compared to last November, a 3.4% increase.

The number of unemployed jobseekers in November who last worked in construction totaled 536,000. The unemployment rate for such workers was 6.2%, the lowest November number since 2007. Meanwhile, Census Bureau data released on December 1 showed that the growth in construction spending accelerated to seven-year high of 13% in the latest 12 months, October 2014 to October 2015.