State-by-State Employment Data for February
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 43 states and the District of Columbia in February compared to the previous month, while seven states saw a decrease. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationwide total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 275,000 in February, following a gain of 229,000 jobs in January.
Across the nation, construction sector jobs data — which includes both residential and non-residential construction — showed that 31 states reported an increase in February compared to January, while 17 states lost construction sector jobs. The remaining three ‐ South Carolina, Vermont and the District of Columbia — reported no change on a month-over-month basis.
Overall, the construction industry added a net 23,000 jobs in February compared to the previous month. Texas added the most construction jobs (7,800), while California lost 9,600 jobs. In percentage terms, Alaska reported the highest increase at 4.9% and Minnesota reported the largest decline at 2.3%.
Year over year, construction sector jobs in the U.S. increased by 215,000, which is a 2.7% increase compared to the February 2023 level. Texas added 32,200 jobs, which was the largest gain of any state, while New York lost 19,000 construction sector jobs. In percentage terms, Alaska had the highest annual growth rate in the construction sector at 15.6%. Over this period, North Dakota reported the largest decline of 5.7%.
Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington, NAHB assistant vice president for forecasting and analysis, provides more details on the overall job market in this Eye on Housing post.
Latest from NAHBNow
Membership Recruitment and Retention
Aug 27, 2026
Fall Recruitment Competition Set to Begin Sept. 1
Builder and Associate members will work to recruit as many new members as they can by Nov. 30. Winners can earn prizes including LG laundry products and 2027 International Builders' Show perks.
Codes and Standards
Aug 27, 2026
2027 Building Codes Finalized: Big Changes Ahead for Off-Site Construction and Flood Resistance
The International Code Council recently released the final results of the Public Comment Hearings and Online Governmental Consensus Vote. This marks the final stage of the 2024-2026 code development cycle leading to the 2027 International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC) and the other 2027 I-Codes.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Aug 28, 2026
Multifamily Absorption Rate Remains Below 50%
The percentage of new apartment units that were absorbed within three months after completion was down five percentage points in the first quarter, according to the Census Bureau’s latest release of the Survey of Market Absorption of New Multifamily Units (SOMA).
Economics
Aug 27, 2026
Small Decline for Single-Family Home Size
New single-family home size had been falling since 2015 in response to declining affordability conditions. An exception occurred in 2021, when new home size increased as interest rates reached historic lows.
Economics
Aug 26, 2026
PCE Inflation Remains Sticky
The latest report shows the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge remains sticky in July, complicating the Fed’s path to its long-term 2% target. Meanwhile, consumer spending remains resilient but is showing signs of slowing, with real consumer spending unchanged in July. Households are pulling back on spending amid persistent inflation.