Employment Increasing in Construction

For the construction market, an increase in the rate of job openings has continued in 2011. For April, the number of job openings in the construction sector reached 1.7 percent of total positions, the highest rate since 2008, albeit equaling certain months associated with the end of phases of the homebuyer tax credit program.

The 2011 year is still looking to be the first year since the onset of the Great Recession when total construction sector hires will exceed sector separations (quits, layoffs and other departures). However, as of April, year-to-date totals indicate total hires just barely exceed total separations.

Nonetheless, total employment in the residential construction sector (builders and trades contractors for single-family, multifamily, land development and remodeling) is still off more than 1.4 million from the peak employment level of 3.45 million for April of 2006.

– Courtesy of NAHB