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Who’s Still Working from Home in 2025? A Look at America’s Telework Trends

Jing Fu2025-07-09T08:17:34-05:00

Remote work may no longer dominate the U.S. labor force as it did during the height of the pandemic in 2020, but it still represents a substantial share of employment today. According to the latest data from the Current Population Survey (CPS), approximately 34.3 million employed people teleworked or worked at home for pay in April 2025. The telework rate, which represents the number of people who teleworked as a percentage of people who were working, was 21.6% in April, and it has consistently ranged between 17.9% and 23.8% between October 2022 and April 2025. Of those who teleworked in April, more than half teleworked for all their working hours, while the remaining teleworked for some, but not all, of their work hours. The distribution of telework across the U.S. workforce continues to reflect deeper patterns shaped by gender, age, education, occupation, and industry. The following insights are based on an analysis of monthly CPS data. Gender: Women Lead in Telework Women continue to outpace men in remote work participation. Nearly 25% of employed women worked from home in April 2025. In contrast, about 19% of employed men teleworked. This gender gap reflects employment trends. Many women are employed in professional, administrative, or office-based roles. These fields transitioned smoothly to remote work during the pandemic and have largely maintained hybrid or fully remote options. Additionally, the growing rate of college completion among women1 has pushed more women into positions that are structurally suited to telework. Flexibility remains a priority, especially for women balancing work and caregiving responsibilities, further reinforcing the demand for work-from-home arrangements. Age: Older Workers Are More Likely to Telework Age also plays a major role in who works remotely. Workers aged 25 and older are more likely to telework than their younger counterparts. Ages 16–24: Only 6.2% worked from home. Ages 25–54: About 24% reported teleworking. Ages 55+: Around 23% worked remotely. Younger workers tend to fill entry-level roles in retail, hospitality, and service sectors that require in-person attendance. Meanwhile, older workers are more likely to have progressed in their careers into managerial or specialized roles where remote work is feasible or even expected. Education: Higher Degrees, Higher Telework Rates Education remains one of the strongest indicators of telework status. Higher educational attainment is positively associated with a higher telework rate. No high school diploma: Just 3.1% worked remotely. High school graduates, no college: 8.4% teleworked. Some college or associate degree: 17.3% reported working from home. Bachelor’s degree or higher: 38.3% worked remotely. Higher educational attainment often leads to employment in knowledge-based sectors such as finance, information technology, consulting, and research. These roles often depend on digital communication tools and independent project-based tasks, making them well-suited for remote settings. Occupation: Business and Financial Operations, and Professionals Dominate Remote Work Not surprisingly, occupation heavily influences access to teleworking. Jobs that require physical presence, such as those in food service, transportation, manufacturing, and construction, naturally offer limited remote opportunities. In contrast, people employed in professional and technical fields report the highest telework rate, especially those working in computer and mathematical roles. Industry trends mirror these occupational divisions. Certain sectors have fully embraced telework, particularly finance, information services, and professional and business services. These industries often prioritize flexibility and are structured in ways that make remote work not only possible but efficient. On the other hand, industries like construction, leisure and hospitality remain firmly grounded in physical spaces and in-person involvement. In these fields, work is inherently tied to locations and equipment that cannot be replicated remotely. The construction industry had a telework rate of just 9.8% in April, and leisure and hospitality reported an even lower rate of 8.1%. Looking Ahead: Remote work is not disappearing; it is evolving. The opportunity to work from home is increasingly concentrated among individuals with higher education levels, white-collar job titles, and positions in tech-driven or office-based industries. Meanwhile, those who are younger, have less educational attainments, or work in manual or service-based roles remain largely tied to traditional, in-person work. For the future, we don’t know if telework will expand to become more inclusive or continue reinforcing existing divides in education and job roles. For now, the data suggests that remote work is here to stay, but only for some. Note: “U.S. women are outpacing men in college completion, including in every major racial and ethnic group”, Pew Research Center.https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/11/18/us-women-are-outpacing-men-in-college-completion-including-in-every-major-racial-and-ethnic-group/ Connor Borkowski and Rifat Kaynas, “Telework trends,” Beyond the Numbers: Employment & Unemployment, vol. 14, no. 2 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2025), https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-14/telework-trends-in-2024.htm Discover more from Eye On Housing Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Who’s Still Working from Home in 2025? A Look at America’s Telework TrendsJing Fu2025-07-09T08:17:34-05:00

Solid Job Growth in June

Jing Fu2025-07-03T11:17:21-05:00

The U.S. labor market continued to show resilience in June, with steady job gains led by state/local government and health care sectors. The unemployment rate edged down to 4.1%, signaling ongoing strength in hiring despite persistent economic uncertainty. However, there were some indications that the headline number overstated the health of the labor market, including slowing wage growth and much of the job gains concentrated in state/local government. In June, wage growth slowed. Year-over-year, wages grew at a 3.7% rate, down 0.1 percentage point from the previous month. Wage growth has been outpacing inflation for nearly two years, which typically occurs as productivity increases. National Employment According to the Employment Situation Summary reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 147,000 in June, following an upwardly revised increase of 144,000 jobs in May. Since January 2021, the U.S. job market has seen 54 consecutive months of job growth, making the third-longest period of employment expansion on record. In 2025, monthly employment growth has averaged 124,000, compared with the 168,000 monthly average gain for 2024. The estimates for the previous two months were revised upward. The monthly change in total nonfarm payroll employment for April was revised up by 11,000 from +147,000 to +158,000, while the change for May was revised up by 30,000 from +139,000 to +144,000. Combined, the revisions were 16,000 higher than previously reported. The unemployment rate declined to 4.1% in June. The June decrease in the unemployment rate reflected the decrease in the number of persons unemployed (-222,000) and the increase in the number of persons employed (93,000). Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate—the proportion of the population either looking for a job or already holding a job—decreased by one percentage point to 62.3%. This remains below its pre-pandemic level of 63.3% recorded at the beginning of 2020. Among individuals aged 25 to 54, the participation rate rose by one percentage point to 83.5%. However, the rate for the prime working-age group (25 to 54) has been trending downward since reaching a peak of 83.9% last summer. In June, job gains occurred in state/local government and health care. State/local government posted a large 80,000 combined net job gain for June, while the health care sector added 39,000 jobs, with the largest increases occurring in hospitals and in nursing and residential care facilities. In contrast, the federal government continued to experience job losses, shedding 7,000 positions in June and a total of 69,000 since January 2025, reflecting the effects of government cutbacks. The BLS notes that “employees on paid leave or receiving ongoing severance pay are counted as employed in the establishment survey.” Construction Employment Employment in the overall construction sector rose by 15,000 in June, following an upwardly revised gain of 6,000 in May. While residential construction gained 5,500 jobs, non-residential construction employment added 9,200 jobs during the month. Residential construction employment now stands at 3.3 million in June, broken down as 959,000 builders and 2.4 million residential specialty trade contractors. The six-month moving average of job gains for residential construction was -1,833 a month, reflecting the three months of job losses recorded over the past six months, specifically in January, March, and May of 2025. Over the last 12 months, home builders and remodelers experienced a net loss of 1,400 jobs, marking the second annual decline since September 2020. Since the low point following the Great Recession, residential construction has gained 1,360,600 positions. In June, the unemployment rate for construction workers declined to 3.5% on a seasonally adjusted basis. The unemployment rate for construction workers has remained at a relatively lower level, after reaching 15.3% in April 2020 due to the housing demand impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover more from Eye On Housing Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Solid Job Growth in JuneJing Fu2025-07-03T11:17:21-05:00

U.S. Economy Added 139,000 Jobs in May

Jing Fu2025-06-06T11:18:07-05:00

Despite ongoing economic and policy uncertainty, the labor market remains resilient, though early signs of softening are beginning to emerge. Job growth moderated in May, and employment figures for March and April were notably revised downward. The unemployment rate remained at 4.2%. In May, wage growth remained unchanged. Year-over-year, wages grew at a 3.9% rate. Wage growth has been outpacing inflation for nearly two years, which typically occurs as productivity increases. National Employment According to the Employment Situation Summary reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 139,000 in May, following a downwardly revised increase of 147,000 jobs in April. Since January 2021, the U.S. job market has added jobs for 53 consecutive months, making it the third-longest period of employment expansion on record. Monthly employment growth has averaged 124,000 per month in 2025, compared with the 168,000 monthly average gain for 2024. The estimates for the previous two months were revised down. The monthly change in total nonfarm payroll employment for March was revised down by 65,000 from +185,000 to +120,000, while the change for April was revised down by 30,000 from +177,000 to +147,000. Combined, the revisions were 95,000 lower than previously reported. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2% in May. Despite this stability, the overall labor force shrank with notable shifts. The number of employed persons decreased by 696,000, while the number of unemployed persons increased by 71,000. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate—the proportion of the population either looking for a job or already holding a job—decreased two percentage points to 62.4%. The overall labor force participation rate remains below its pre-pandemic levels of 63.3% at the beginning of 2020. Among individuals aged 25 to 54, the participation rate declined two percentage points to 83.4%. The rate for the prime working-age group (25 to 54) has been trending downward since peaking at 83.9% last summer. In May, industries like health care (+62,000), leisure and hospitality (+48,000), and social assistance (+16,000) continued to see gains. Meanwhile, federal government lost 22,000 jobs in May and has shed 59,000 jobs since January 2025, reflecting the effects of government cutbacks. The BLS notes that “employees on paid leave or receiving ongoing severance pay are counted as employed in the establishment survey.” Construction Employment Employment in the overall construction sector rose by 4,000 in May, following a downwardly revised gain of 7,000 in April. While residential construction lost 7,400 jobs, non-residential construction employment added 11,300 jobs during the month. Residential construction employment now stands at 3.3 million in May, broken down as 963,000 builders and 2.4 million residential specialty trade contractors. The six-month moving average of job gains for residential construction was -2,617 a month, reflecting job losses recorded in three of the past six months, specifically in January, March, and May of 2025. Over the last 12 months, home builders and remodelers experienced a net loss of 1,000 jobs, marking the first annual decline since September 2020. Since the low point following the Great Recession, residential construction has gained 1,360,600 positions. In May, the unemployment rate for construction workers declined to 3.8% on a seasonally adjusted basis. The unemployment rate for construction workers has remained at a relatively lower level, after reaching 15.3% in April 2020 due to the housing demand impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover more from Eye On Housing Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

U.S. Economy Added 139,000 Jobs in MayJing Fu2025-06-06T11:18:07-05:00

States with Highest and Fastest Rising Construction Wages, 2025

Natalia Siniavskaia2025-06-05T08:15:41-05:00

Wage growth in construction continued to decelerate in April on a national basis, but the differences across regional markets remain stark. Nationally, average hourly earnings (AHE) in construction increased 3.6% year-over-year and crossed the $39.3 mark when averaged across all payroll employees (non-seasonally adjusted, NSA).1 Meanwhile, average earnings in construction in Alaska and Massachusetts exceeded $50 per hour (NSA). Across states, the annual growth rate in AHE ranged from 10.6% in Nevada to a decline of 3% in Oklahoma. This is according to the latest Current Employment Statistics (CES) report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Average hourly earnings (AHE) in construction vary greatly across 43 states that report these data. Alaska, states along the Pacific coast, Illinois, Minnesota, and the majority of states in Northeast record the highest AHE. As of April 2025, fourteen states report average earnings (NSA) exceeding $40 per hour. At the other end of the spectrum, nine states report NSA average hourly earnings in construction under $34. The states with the lowest AHE are mostly in the South, with Arkansas reporting the lowest rate of $29.3 per hour. While differences in regional hourly rates reflect variation in the cost of living across states among other things, the faster growing wages are more likely to indicate specific labor markets that are particularly tight. Year-over-year, Nevada, Mississippi, Alaska, Colorado, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, and Montana reported fastest growing hourly wages in construction, more than doubling the national average growth of 3.6%. Nevada reported the largest annual increase of 10.6%, while the growth rate in Mississippi and Alaska was just under 10%. In sharp contrast, Oklahoma registered a decline in hourly wages of 3%. Five other states reported modestly declining hourly rates in construction, compared to a year ago – Louisiana, Missouri, Rhode Island, California, and Wisconsin. AHE measures wage rates including overtime but does not include benefit costs and payroll taxes. Discover more from Eye On Housing Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

States with Highest and Fastest Rising Construction Wages, 2025Natalia Siniavskaia2025-06-05T08:15:41-05:00

Job Growth Slows Slightly in April

Jing Fu2025-05-02T11:17:14-05:00

The U.S. job market slowed slightly in April, with notable downward revisions to February and March figures. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%. The labor market remains resilient despite growing economic uncertainty, though early signs of softening are beginning to emerge. In April, wage growth remained unchanged. Year-over-year, wages grew at a 3.8% rate. Wage growth has been outpacing inflation for nearly two years, which typically occurs as productivity increases. National Employment According to the Employment Situation Summary reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 177,000 in April, following a downwardly revised increase of 185,000 jobs in March. Since January 2021, the U.S. job market has added jobs for 52 consecutive months, making it the third-longest period of employment expansion on record. Monthly employment growth has averaged 144,000 per month in 2025, compared with the 168,000 monthly average gain for 2024. The estimates for the previous two months were revised down. The monthly change in total nonfarm payroll employment for February was revised down by 15,000 from +117,000 to +102,000, while the change for March was revised down by 43,000 from +228,000 to +185,000. Combined, the revisions were 58,000 lower than previously reported. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2% in April. While the number of employed persons increased by 436,000, the number of unemployed persons increased by 82,000. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate—the proportion of the population either looking for a job or already holding a job—rose one percentage point to 62.6%. Among individuals aged 25 to 54, the participation rate rose three percentage points to 83.6%, marking the highest rate since September 2024. Despite these gains, the overall labor force participation rate remains below its pre-pandemic levels of 63.3% at the beginning of 2020. Additionally, the rate for the prime working-age group (25 to 54) has been trending downward since peaking at 83.9% last summer. In April, industries like health care (+51,000), transportation and warehousing (+29,000), and financial activities (+14,000) continued to see gains. Meanwhile, federal government employment lost 9,000 jobs in April and has shed 26,000 since January 2025, reflecting the effects of government cutbacks. The BLS notes that “employees on paid leave or receiving ongoing severance pay are counted as employed in the establishment survey.” Construction Employment Employment in the overall construction sector increased by 11,000 in April, following a downwardly revised gain of 7,000 in March. While residential construction gained 3,400 jobs, non-residential construction employment added 8,000 jobs for the month. Residential construction employment now stands at 3.3 million in April, broken down as 956,000 builders and 2.4 million residential specialty trade contractors. The six-month moving average of job gains for residential construction was -1,583 a month, mainly reflecting the three months’ job loss over the past six months (October 2024, January 2025, and March 2025). Over the last 12 months, home builders and remodelers added 5,000 jobs on a net basis. Since the low point following the Great Recession, residential construction has gained 1,367,000 positions. In April, the unemployment rate for construction workers rose to 5.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis. The unemployment rate for construction workers has remained at a relatively lower level, after reaching 15.3% in April 2020 due to the housing demand impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover more from Eye On Housing Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Job Growth Slows Slightly in AprilJing Fu2025-05-02T11:17:14-05:00

The Power of Women in the Workforce

Jing Fu2025-04-22T09:18:11-05:00

Over the past 125 years, women have played a crucial and multifaceted role in the labor force. Increasing women’s participation in the workforce is not only essential for individual and family well-being, but also contributes significantly to overall labor force participation rates and economic growth by adding more workers and enhancing overall productivity1. Historically, women’s labor force participation rate rose rapidly between 1948 and 2000, peaking around 60% in 1999. During the same period, men’s participation rates declined. However, since 2000, the growth in women’s labor force participation has flattened and then declined. According to the March 2025 Employment Situation Summary reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), women’s labor force participation rate held steady at 57.5%, and women now represent nearly half (47%) of the total U.S. labor force. Selected Categories Prime-age women (ages 25-54) represent a significant and growing segment of the U.S. labor force. As of 2024, they accounted for nearly 30% of the civilian labor force, compared to 34% for prime-age men. According to the latest data from the Current Population Survey (CPS), prime-age women had a labor force participation rate of 78%, the highest among all female age groups. This rate has fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, surpassing its previous peak recorded in February 2020. As discussed in the previous blog, higher levels of educational attainment are strongly associated with higher labor force participation and lower unemployment. Women with a bachelor’s degree or higher have played a vital role in shaping the labor market. In 2024, about 70% of women with this level of educational attainment were active in the labor force, compared to only 34% of women who had not completed high school. The CPS data also reveals notable differences in women’s labor force participation based on parental status. Women with older children (ages 6 to 17) and no children under 6 years old had a higher labor force participation rate than those with younger children. Interestingly, women without children had a relatively lower labor force participation rate compared to those with children. Further research from the Brookings Institution and The Hamilton Project2 highlights a significant shift: women with young children (under 5 years), especially those who are highly educated, married, or foreign-born, are more likely to be in the labor force now than they were before the pandemic. Women’s labor force participation also varies by race and ethnicity. Among women ages 16 and over, Black women had the highest participation rate at 61%, followed by Hispanic women (59%), Asian women (59%), and White women (57%). The figure below reflects the diversity and complexity of women’s roles in the workforce. Women in Industry As more women enter the labor force, they are increasingly shaping a broad range of industries–from healthcare and education to leisure and hospitality, retail, technology, and construction. In 1964, women were primarily employed in a narrower set of sectors. The top four industries employing the most women at that time were: manufacturing; trade, transportation, and utilities; local government; and education and health services3. By 2024, however, women’s participation in the workforce has expanded significantly, both in scope and impact. According to the latest CPS data, women dominated the education and health services sector, where they hold approximately 27.6 million jobs. That means seven in every ten workers in this field are women. Moreover, women now make up more than half of the workforce in several other key industries, including other services, leisure and hospitality, and financial activities. Despite their growing role in the workforce, they remain underrepresented in certain sectors, most notably, construction. Although women now make up a significant portion of the overall labor force, they account for just 11% of total employment in the construction industry. Of those, only 2.8% of women work in actual trade roles, while most women in the industry are employed in: Office and administrative support Management Business Financial operations Gender Pay Gap by Occupation While the gender pay gap in the U.S. has narrowed significantly over the past few decades, it remains a persistent issue in the labor market. According to a study4 by the Pew Research Center, women earned about 65 cents for every dollar earned by men in 1982. By 2023, that figure had risen to approximately 82 cents on the dollar—a clear sign of progress. However, the pace of change has slowed considerably in recent years. In 2024, the CPS data shows that women working full time earned a median weekly wage of $1,043, compared to $1,261 for men. This means women earned 83 cents for every dollar earned by men—a 17% gender wage gap. At the occupational level, women earn less than men across all major occupational groups, even ones dominated by women. The smallest gender pay gap was found in community and social services occupations. In contrast, occupations in legal, sales and related, protective services, and production display larger disparities in earnings between women and men. The Future of Women in the Workforce Looking ahead to 2033, the number of women in the labor force is expected to continue growing, driven primarily by the prime-age women (ages 25 to 54). BLS employment projections estimate that roughly 3.2 million prime-age women will join the workforce between 2023 and 2033. During this period, their participation rate is projected to increase slightly, reflecting continued momentum in women’s economic engagement. Meanwhile, the U.S. labor market is experiencing a critical shortage of skilled workers, especially in fields like STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and skilled trades. As the NAHB Chief Economist stated, “The ultimate solution for the persistent, national labor shortage will be found…by recruiting, training and retaining skilled workers.” This applies equally to the women’s labor force. Women’s participation is closely tied to their access to education and skills development. As more women pursue higher education and specialized training, their career opportunities expand, particularly in fields previously dominated by men. This progress can help narrow the gender pay gap over time. However, women often shoulder disproportionate family and caregiving responsibilities, not only during their reproductive years, but throughout their lives. According to the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), on a typical weekday, prime-age working women spent about four hours on caregiving and household tasks, such as household activities, caring for and helping household members, and purchasing goods and services. This is nearly twice the time men spent on the same activities. Many women face a tough decision between career advancement and family caregiving responsibilities, often leading to reduced work hours or even complete withdrawal from the labor force. To support and increase women’s labor force participation, it may be beneficial to consider a range of policies and workplace reforms. For example, promoting flexible work arrangements can help women better balance professional and personal responsibilities. Narrowing the gender pay gap would also play a critical role in ensuring fair compensation and financial security. Furthermore, expanding access to affordable and high-quality childcare could remove a major barrier for many working mothers. In addition, continued investment in education and training programs would enable women to advance in their careers and contribute to broader, long-term economic growth. To conclude, empowering women to succeed in the workforce not only improves individual and family well-being, but also strengthens the entire economy. Note: “Changing Business Cycles: The Role of Women’s Employment,” Stefania Albanesi, NBER Working Paper, No. 25655, March 2019. ↩︎https://www.brookings.edu/articles/prime-age-women-labor-market-recovery/ ↩︎“Women At Work”, Spotlight on Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2017.https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2017/women-at-work/pdf/women-at-work.pdf ↩︎“Gender Pay Gap in U.S. Has Narrowed Slightly Over 2 Decades,” Richard Fry and Carolina Aragão, Pew Research Center, March 4, 2025. ↩︎ Discover more from Eye On Housing Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

The Power of Women in the WorkforceJing Fu2025-04-22T09:18:11-05:00

U.S. Economy Added 228,000 Jobs in March

Jing Fu2025-04-04T10:21:20-05:00

The U.S. job market unexpectedly accelerated in March, while the figures for January and February were revised downward substantially. The unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 4.2% in March, from 4.1% the previous month. This month’s jobs report highlights the continued resilience of the labor market despite sticky inflation, a drop in consumer confidence, mass federal government layoffs, and growing economic uncertainty. Noticeably, residential construction employment has shown signs of weakness in recent months. In March, the six-month moving average of job gains for residential construction turned negative for the first time since August 2020. It reflects three significant drops in employment: 8,400 jobs in October 2024, 6,700 jobs in January 2025, and 9,800 jobs in March 2025. Additionally, the construction job openings rate has returned to 2019 levels, driven by a slowdown in construction activity. In March, wage growth slowed. Year-over-year, wages grew at a 3.8% rate, down 0.3 percentage points from a year ago. Wage growth has been outpacing inflation for nearly two years, which typically occurs as productivity increases. National Employment According to the Employment Situation Summary reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 228,000 in March, following a downwardly revised increase of 117,000 jobs in February. Since January 2021, the U.S. job market has added jobs for 51 consecutive months, making it the third-longest period of employment expansion on record. The estimates for the previous two months were revised down. The monthly change in total nonfarm payroll employment for January was revised down by 14,000 from +125,000 to +111,000, while the change for February was revised down by 34,000 from +151,000 to +117,000. Combined, the revisions were 48,000 lower than previously reported. The unemployment rate rose to 4.2% in March. While the number of employed persons increased by 201,000, the number of unemployed persons increased by 31,000. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate—the proportion of the population either looking for a job or already holding a job—rose one percentage point to 62.5%. For people aged between 25 and 54, the participation rate decreased two percentage points to 83.3%. While the overall labor force participation rate remains below its pre-pandemic levels of 63.3% at the beginning of 2020, the rate for people aged between 25 and 54 has been trending down since it peaked at 83.9% last summer. In March, employment rose in health care (+54,000), social assistance (+24,000), and transportation and warehousing (+23,000). Employment in retail trade also added 24,000 jobs in March, partially reflecting the return of workers from a strike. However, within the government sector, federal government employment saw a decline of 4,000, following a loss of 11,000 jobs in February. The BLS notes that “employees on paid leave or receiving ongoing severance pay are counted as employed in the establishment survey.” Construction Employment Employment in the overall construction sector increased by 13,000 in March, following a gain of 14,000 in February. While residential construction saw a decline of 9,800 jobs, non-residential construction employment added 22,300 jobs for the month. Residential construction employment now stands at 3.4 million in March, broken down as 958,000 builders and 2.4 million residential specialty trade contractors. The six-month moving average of job gains for residential construction was -2,883 a month, mainly reflecting the three months’ job loss over the past six months (October 2024, January 2025 and March 2025). Over the last 12 months, home builders and remodelers added 14,000 jobs on a net basis. Since the low point following the Great Recession, residential construction has gained 1,367,600 positions. In March, the unemployment rate for construction workers declined to 4.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis. The unemployment rate for construction workers has remained at a relatively lower level, after reaching 15.3% in April 2020 due to the housing demand impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover more from Eye On Housing Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

U.S. Economy Added 228,000 Jobs in MarchJing Fu2025-04-04T10:21:20-05:00

Year-over-Year Declines for Construction Job Openings

Robert Dietz2025-03-11T12:15:39-05:00

After a period of slowing associated with declines for some elements of the residential construction industry, the count of open construction sector jobs remained lower than a year ago, per the January Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The number of open jobs for the overall economy increased from 7.51 million in December to 7.74 million in January. This is notably smaller than the 8.47 million estimate reported a year ago and reflects a softened aggregate labor market. Previous NAHB analysis indicated that this number had to fall below 8 million on a sustained basis for the Federal Reserve to feel more comfortable about labor market conditions and their potential impacts on inflation. With estimates remaining below 8 million for national job openings, the Fed in theory should be able to cut further despite a recent pause. However, tariff proposals may keep the Fed on pause in the coming quarters. The number of open construction sector jobs increased from a revised 205,000 in December to 236,000 in January. This nonetheless marks a significant reduction of open, unfilled construction jobs than that registered a year ago (407,000) due to a slowing of construction activity because of ongoing elevated interest rates. The construction job openings rate edged higher to 2.8% in January, significantly down year-over-year from 4.8%. The layoff rate in construction stayed low (1.8%) in January. The quits rate moved higher to 2% in January, near to its rate from a year ago. Discover more from Eye On Housing Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Year-over-Year Declines for Construction Job OpeningsRobert Dietz2025-03-11T12:15:39-05:00

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