Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
The number of open positions in construction was down in February, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The current level of open jobs is down measurably from three years ago due to declines in construction and housing activity, per the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
The number of open jobs for the overall economy dropped in February, falling from 7.24 million in January to 6.88 million in February. The February reading was down from a year ago due to a cooling labor market.
The number of open construction sector jobs fell in January, declining slightly from 230,000 in January to 202,000 in February. This total was down compared to a year ago (255,000). The chart below notes the declining trend that has been in place for unfilled construction jobs since the Fed raised the federal funds rate and homebuilding weakened. While home building employment was declining during the second half of 2025, other subsectors of the construction industry have expanded, like data centers. This has produced volatility within a reduced range in the series since 2024.
The construction job openings rate decreased to 2.4% in February, down from the 3% rate estimated a year ago. The layoff rate in construction declined slightly to 1.8% in February and the quits rate decreased to 1.3% for the month.
