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Brief of diving:
- Construction had 3,000 more open jobs The last day of May compared to April, according to a report by the Office of Labor Statistics published on Tuesday. The industry had 245,000 positions without filling at the end of the month.
- This change was minimal compared to the previous month, but the current market has been gentle in recent months compared to last year, according to builders and contractors associated with the Economist Anirban Basu. In May 2025 it had approximately 35% less open positions than the same month by 2024.
- At the same time, the layoffs also remained historically low, according to economists, which indicates that contractors are eager to hang their workers. “These figures indicate that contractors are increasingly cautious, increasing growth and expansion plans, but not to widespread layoffs,” said Macrina Wilkins, a senior research analyst of the General Associated General Contractors of America.
Divide vision:
Wilkins said reluctance to fire or the dismissal of workers reflects an emphasis on labor retention.
“Even with less openings and hiring, companies maintain their current labor, which indicates the continuous value they put in skilled workers in the midst of persistent labor shortages and the uncertainty around the project’s pipes,” said Wilkins.
The year to the present The contracting rate in construction is less That any other year of the series, which started 25 years ago, said based on a statement.
But low hiring rates, low and less openings do not paint the entire image.
“Of course, it is not clear how the uncertainty of immigration policy affects this data,” said Basu. “To the extent that a decrease in the hiring of workers without documentation is not reflected, the industry could be significantly weaker than it seems.”
In fact, customs and the application of immigration Incursions in jobs increased In May, so the impact on job recruitment data is still unclear. Incursions, designed to detain and deport unauthorized workers, not only stop active projects, but also have a chilling effect, as other jobs stop or evaluate their risks and needs of the workforce, according to experts.
However, Basu said that contractors remain optimistic about these numbers, with more than half of the ABC members who reported optimism for staff in the second half of the year.
