Construction Industry Adds 4,000 Jobs in May

Washington, DC, June 6, 2025-The construction industry added 4,000 jobs in May, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has increased by 126,000 jobs, or 1.5%, according to the ABC. 

Nonresidential construction employment increased by 11,300 positions, with growth in all three subcategories. Nonresidential specialty trade added the most jobs, increasing by 4,500 positions, while heavy and civil engineering and nonresidential building added 3,700 and 3,100 jobs, respectively.

“The nonresidential construction segment has now added jobs at over twice the pace of the broader economy during the past 12 months,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “This hiring has been aided by softness in the residential segment, which lost over 7,000 jobs in May, freeing up workers for nonresidential contractors. Even so, the industrywide unemployment rate fell to an exceptionally low 3.5% in May, indicating that the labor supply remains unusually tight.