According to a new survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of open positions in the construction sector increased in May 2026. The number of open jobs for the overall economy fell flat in May, remaining near 7.59 million. The May reading was also measurably higher compared to a year ago, at 7.31 million. The recent increase in job openings for the overall economy indicates that the labor market is holding steady.
The construction job openings rate increased to 3.5% in May, up from the 2.6% rate estimated a year ago. The current level of open jobs is down measurably from three years ago due to declines in construction activity, particularly in housing. Recent gains for nonresidential construction have increased demand for construction labor, although they have not addressed the decrease in the residential construction sector.
