There has been a labor shortage in the construction industry for the past few years and according to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of data, as of the last day of January, there were 236,000 job openings. 
Associated Builders and Contractors
This data was released in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting. Industry job openings increased by 31,000 last month but are down by 171,000 from the same time last year.
Associated Builders and Contractors
“While construction job openings remained subdued in January, industrywide labor force churn increased meaningfully,” said ABC chief economist, Anirban Basu. “Both hires and separations—including layoffs, discharges, and quits—accelerated to the fastest rate since the first half of 2024. Yes, recent construction spending data and investor caution in the face of volatile trade policy represent a cause for concern, but nearly 6 in 10 contractors expect their staffing levels to grow over the next several months, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index. That, along with healthy industrywide job growth in February, suggests job openings should continue to trend higher in the coming months.”
