Employment in the construction industry bottomed out in February 2010 with an unemployment rate of 22 percent. Since then, 359,500 positions have been added, but it would take 1.107 million more to reach the peak level
of early 2006.

The most recent report from the National Association of Homebuilders stated that the construction sector hiring rate fell in November to five percent while the number of open but unfilled positions rose to 145,000, the third highest total since the recession officially ended.

Total employment in the home building/remodeling sector was pegged at 2.43 million, of which 1.666 million are residential specialty trade contractors.

The residential construction sector added 13,500 jobs in December, and 132,000 jobs total in 2014. The unemployment rate for construction workers continued its decline from its peak in February 2010 of 22 percent. December's rate was 7.5 percent.