State-by-State Employment Data for April
Nonfarm employment increased in 38 states and the District of Columbia in April compared to the previous month, while 11 states saw a decrease. Alaska reported no change during this time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationwide total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 175,000 in April, following a gain of 315,000 jobs in March.
Across the nation, construction sector jobs data — which includes both residential and non-residential construction — showed that 28 states reported an increase in April compared to March, while 19 states and the District of Columbia lost construction sector jobs. The three remaining states — Mississippi, Rhode Island and South Carolina — reported no change on a month-over-month basis.
Overall, the construction industry added a net 9,000 jobs in April compared to the previous month.
Year over year, construction sector jobs in the U.S. increased by 258,000, which is a 3.2% increase compared to the April 2023 level. Texas added the most jobs (30,500) of any state, while New York lost 7,100 construction sector jobs. In percentage terms, Alaska had the highest annual growth rate in the construction sector at 18%, while Maryland reported the largest decline of 4%.
Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington, NAHB assistant vice president for forecasting and analysis, provides more insights in this Eye on Housing post.
Latest from NAHBNow
Labor
Sep 09, 2026
TPS Uncertainty Remains for El Salvadoran Workers Living in the U.S.
The Trump administration’s expiration date of Sept. 9 for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for El Salvador has been effectively continued, affecting roughly 200,000 Salvadoran TPS holders in the U.S. and further straining the construction industry’s labor shortage.
Environmental Issues
Sep 09, 2026
New Agency WOTUS Proposal Would Eliminate 'Wet Season' Concept
The Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have announced a supplemental proposed rule offering a new approach to defining “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Sep 10, 2026
Energy Prices Rise Again in August
Residential building material prices, excluding energy, rose 0.2% in August and were up 5.1% from a year ago. Energy prices rose sharply in August, as prices for energy inputs to residential construction rose 6.6% over the month.
Economics
Sep 09, 2026
Mortgage Applications Decline for Sixth Straight Month in August
Mortgage application activity continued to decline in August as elevated US treasury yields pushed mortgage rates higher. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application volume, declined 3.2% month-over-month in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, marking the sixth consecutive monthly decline.
Economics
Sep 09, 2026
Who Are NAHB’s Builder Members?
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) conducts an annual census to better understand the composition and characteristics of its members. In 2025, 35% of NAHB’s membership was comprised of builder members—single-family and multifamily builders, residential and commercial remodelers, commercial builders, land developers, and manufacturers of modular/panelized/log homes.