Unemployment claims are at an all-time high, but here is some news that might surprise you: Residential construction actually added jobs in March. Though the pace of hiring is expected to decline as projects are delayed or cancelled, the 2,000 jobs added is a bright spot in an otherwise unrelentingly stressful time. Concerned about their workers contracting the coronavirus, some builders are pulling back, but others argue that construction is uniquely suited for social distancing due to its outdoor nature, protective gear, and workstations spaced far apart.
Construction has been deemed essential by the federal government, but a growing number of residential construction workers are pulling back, worried about catching the coronavirus.
While overall construction employment fell in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, residential construction added 2,000 jobs.
It remains to be seen how long that will last.