One of the primary indicators of the U.S. economy, construction employment, goes through regular up and down cycles as it reacts to interest rates, spending patterns and other changes in the marketplace. Recent numbers showed that the indicator has been on an upward trend.

According to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) information by the online market research firm ConstructConnect, total U.S. construction employment increased by 22,000 in August. The same indicator increased by 19,000 in July. The August figure has also increased by 120,000 from August of last year.

Construction employment can be broken down into multiple categories and subcategories, almost all of which were on the rise. For example, nonspecialty trade contractors showed the biggest increase in jobs added to the payroll, with over 11,000 new jobs. The BLS defines a specialty trade contractor as someone whose primary activity is performing specific activities. Examples include pouring concrete, site preparation, plumbing, painting and electrical work.

The category is further divided into the subcategories of residential and nonresidential. Showing the largest increase of any subcategory, nonresidential specialty trade contractors added 7,800 new jobs last month. Residential specialty trade contractors added 3,400 new jobs.

Most other categories and subcategories showed increases. too. Building construction added 5,500 new jobs. Within that category, residential building construction added 7,300 jobs. The only subcategory to lose jobs, nonresidential building construction lost 1,300 jobs. Finally, heavy and civil engineering construction added 4,400 jobs.

ConstructConnect notes that nonresidential building construction shed jobs after reaching an all-time high of 949,000 workers in July.

In an online analysis from March 2025, the BLS attributed the trend in construction industry job growth to three factors: the increase in renewable energy capacity, surge in data centers and use of artificial intelligence, and the expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure. In that article, the Bureau projected employment in the electrical contractor and wiring installation sector to increase by 6.6% by 2033.