Construction unemployment dropped to 8.2 percent in June, the lowest June level in six years, as employers added 6,000 workers to payrolls. Employment totaled 6,015,000 for the month, the highest total since June 2009 and an increase of 186,000 jobs, or 3.2 percent of the workforce, from a year earlier.

The unemployment rate for workers actively looking for jobs and last employed in construction declined from 9.8 percent a year earlier to 8.2 percent in June, the lowest June rate since 2008. Despite the nominal improvements, the number of unemployed workers who last worked in construction declined by 1.075 million over the past six years, but industry employment increased by only 512,000.

"The construction industry continues to expand gradually and unevenly," said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, which analyzed the federal jobs data. "Despite recent job growth, construction employment is still more than 1.7 million jobs, or 22 percent, below its 2006 peak."

Residential construction employers added 6,600 jobs in June and 106,300, or 4.9 percent of the workforce, over 12 months. Nonresidential construction employment was unchanged since May, but up by 80,000, or 2.2 percent, since June 2013.

"The belated and partial nature of the construction recovery means many experienced workers have left the industry and fewer new entrants have chosen construction as a career," Simonson said. "That will make it hard for contractors in many regions to find the workers with the right skills over the coming months."