Construction employment totaled 7,099,000 in January, the highest total since August 2008, according to an analysis of government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. The total represents a gain of 36,000 for the month and 226,000, or 3.3 percent, over 12 months.
Residential construction added 19,000 jobs in January and 88,400 jobs, or 3.3 percent, over the last year. Nonresidential construction employment increased by 16,400 jobs in January and 137,200 positions, or 3.3 percent, over the last year.
The number of unemployed jobseekers with recent construction experience fell to 707,000 in January, down from 859,000 in January 2017, while the unemployment rate in construction dropped to 7.3 percent in January from 9.4 percent a year earlier.
"The construction industry has consistently added workers at nearly double the rate of the overall economy," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist, in a statement. "The outlook remains positive for further growth in the industry. But finding workers to complete all projects will be a challenge with unemployment so low overall and in construction."
