Construction Jobs Fall in September
The number of open construction sector jobs trended lower in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The data indicate the demand for construction labor market remains weaker than a year ago.
Elements of the construction sector slowed in prior months as tight Federal Reserve policy persisted. The number of open construction sector jobs fell from a revised 328,000 in August to a softer 288,000 in September. This September reading was lower than last September's number of 422,000 open, unfilled construction jobs.
The number of open jobs for the overall economy declined from 7.86 million to 7.44 million in September. This is notably smaller than the 9.31 million estimate reported a year ago and a clear sign of a softening aggregate labor market.
Previous NAHB analysis indicated that this number had to fall below 8 million on a sustained basis for the Fed to feel more comfortable about labor market conditions and their potential impacts on inflation. With estimates now remaining near 8 million for national job openings, the Fed has begun a credit easing cycle should continue lowering rates.
NAHB Chief Economist Dr. Robert Dietz provides additional details in this Eye on Housing post.
Latest from NAHBNow
Associate Members Committee
Jun 17, 2026
Apply Now To Become the Next National Associate ChairA National Associate Chair's role is is to bring Associate initiatives, questions and concerns to the other Builder NACs and the senior officers of NAHB for collaboration.
Awards
Jun 17, 2026
Industry Legends Honored With National Housing Center AwardsSeveral industry leaders were recently honored for their contributions to the housing industry during the National Housing Center Awards Ceremony on June 13 in Washington, D.C. The ceremony recognized the 2026 inductees to the National Housing Hall of Fame and the recipients of the Exemplary Service to Home Building Award.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Jun 16, 2026
Housing Starts Weaken in May as Multifamily Construction SlowsHousing starts fell sharply in May, driven by a steep drop in multifamily construction. Meanwhile, single-family buildings also slipped amid high interest rates, rising construction costs and ongoing labor shortages.
Economics
Jun 15, 2026
Builder Sentiment Remains Weak Amid Affordability ConcernsBuilder sentiment remains subdued as rising material costs, elevated mortgage rates and ongoing affordability challenges continue to strain the housing market.
Economics
Jun 12, 2026
Single-Family Permits Continue to Decline Through April as Multifamily Activity StrengthensThrough April 2026, residential construction activity remained uneven across housing sectors. Single-family permitting continued to soften compared with a year ago, reflecting persistent affordability challenges and elevated borrowing costs, while multifamily permitting posted solid gains supported by stronger activity in several regions.