Share of Open Construction Jobs Continues to Fall

Open construction jobs fell at the end of September to 288,000, down 12% from the previous month and 32% on a year-over-year basis, according to Construction Dive. In September, 3.4% of construction jobs remained unfilled, lower than the 4.5% national average. While some experts attribute this shift in job openings to Hurricane Helene, it is only partially to blame as the decline began much earlier, says Macrina Wilkins, senior research analyst for the Associated General Contractors of America.

“In hurricane-affected states like Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, there was only a slight decrease in the number of construction jobs added in September compared to the previous month,” Wilkins said. “This suggests that while local disruptions from Hurricane Helene likely impacted openings, they may not be the sole factor driving the decline.”

Read more