Construction Hiring Eases in December with Some States Seeing Losses
The U.S. construction industry added 8,000 jobs in December and some 196,000 jobs over the course of 2024. But those numbers are down from November as more states saw losses in construction jobs.
Overall, the U.S. economy added 256,000 jobs in December, up from the 212,000 added in November. All states showed job growth except West Virginia, which was flat, and South Dakota, which registered a small drop in overall hiring.
The construction sector added a total of 8,000 last month, down from 10,000 in November. The data showed that 26 states reported an increase in December compared to November, while 20 states lost construction sector jobs, with the rest seeing flat results.
Washington, with the highest increase, added 4,000 construction jobs, while New York, on the other end of the spectrum, lost 4,400 jobs. In percentage terms, South Dakota reported the highest increase at 1.9%, and Mississippi reported the largest decline at 2.2%.
Year-over-year data showed an increase of 196,000 construction jobs in 2024. The year-over-year change dipped from November, which saw construction employment rise by 211,000 in the previous 12 months.
Texas added 31,500 construction jobs in 2024, which was the largest gain of any state, while California lost 12,400 construction sector jobs. In percentage terms, Alaska had the highest annual growth rate in the construction sector at 18.9%. Over this period, West Virginia reported the largest decline of 3.4%.
Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington, NAHB assistant vice president for forecasting and analysis, provides more in this Eye on Housing post.
Latest from NAHBNow
Environmental Issues | Advocacy
Sep 15, 2026
NAHB Provides Agency Official Inside Look to Inform Changes to Stormwater Permitting
NAHB members and staff provided a tour of several residential subdivisions in Northern Virginia to an official from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Advocacy. The tour offered an opportunity to show the official how NAHB members comply with construction stormwater requirements and to discuss the federal construction general permit (CGP) for stormwater discharges from active residential land development and construction sites.
Associate Members Committee | IBS
Sep 14, 2026
Associate Members Share Their Top Networking, IBS Advice
We spoke with three Associate members about their best tips on how to network with peers virtually throughout the year, and how to network in-person at key events such as the International Builders’ Show.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Sep 10, 2026
Existing Home Sales Fall despite Improved Inventory
Existing home sales fell for the third consecutive month as record-high home prices and elevated mortgage rates weighed on buyers. Mortgage rates resumed an upward trend after the July ceasefire ended.
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.