The construction industry had 459,000 job openings on the last day of November, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.

Over 2,000 commenters responded to the Department of Labor’s request for input on occupations that should be added to the “Schedule A” shortage list, which presumes U.S. workers are not available in a listed occupation and speeds employer applications for green cards for workers in those jobs.

Demand is high, and jobs are selling. However, some contractors are finding it harder to get paid in today’s volatile economy.

Construction employment in October remained depressed compared to pre-pandemic levels in three-fourths of states despite the fact 36 states and D.C. added new construction jobs in October.

Construction spending rose 4.1 percent from November 2018 to November 2019, while industry employment grew in 226, or 63 percent, out of 358 metro areas, according to a new analysis of federal data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. 

Construction employment grew in 231, or 65 percent, out of 358 metro areas between October 2018 and October 2019, declined in 69 and was unchanged in 58, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. 

Forty-one states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between October 2018 and October 2019, while construction employment increased in 28 states from September to October, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released. 

Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between September 2018 and September 2019, while construction employment increased in 28 states from August to September.

Construction employment grew in 252 out of 358 metro areas between August 2018 and August 2019, declined in 60 and was unchanged in 46, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America.

Thirty-nine states added construction jobs between August 2018 and August 2019, while construction employment increased in 29 states from July to August.