Construction Employment Up in 2017 – NMP Skip to main content

Construction Employment Up in 2017

Jan 08, 2018
Construction employment increased by 30,000 jobs in December to the highest level since September 2008

Construction employment increased by 30,000 jobs in December to the highest level since September 2008, according the Associated General Contractors of America.
 
Construction employment totaled nearly seven million jobs in December, a gain of 30,000 for the month and 210,000, or 3.1 percent, for all of 2017. Residential construction added 18,200 jobs in December and 86,400 jobs, or 3.2 percent, over the past 12 months while non-residential construction employment increased by 11,800 jobs in December and 123,100 positions, or three percent, during the course of 2017.
 
Furthermore, the number of unemployed jobseekers with recent construction experience fell to 554,000 in December, down from 670,000 one year earlier, while the unemployment rate in construction dropped to 5.9 percent last month from 7.4 percent a year earlier. The rate and number of unemployed were the lowest for December in the 17-year history that the trade group has been tracking this data.
 
“Employment and pay in construction have risen more rapidly over the past year than in the economy overall, as the supply of unemployed, experienced workers continues to shrink,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s Chief Economist. “Construction pay is now almost 10 percent higher than the private-sector average. Nevertheless, contractors report increasing difficulty filling many types of hourly craft and salaried openings, given the low rate of unemployment throughout the economy, including construction.”

 
About the author
Published
Jan 08, 2018
Strong Jobs Report Threatens Mortgage Rate Rally

October hiring more than doubled expectations, pushing Treasury yields higher

Nov 06, 2026
Fed Holds Rates, But Pricing Pressures Persist

Rising Treasury yields and fresh inflation data complicate rate locks, borrower qualification, and lender margins as markets anticipate another hike in December

Oct 29, 2026
Zippy Adds Capital For Manufactured-Home Lending Push

The $20 million investment from Saluda Grade will support expansion beyond 27 states and new loan products across wholesale, retail, and community channels

Oct 16, 2026
Inflation Hits 3.7%, Putting Mortgage Rate Relief At Risk

September’s inflation pickup puts recent rate improvements at risk, potentially eroding affordability gains from lower home prices and seller concessions

Oct 14, 2026
PLACE Acquires Ardley, Expanding Push To Turn Existing Borrowers Into New Loans

The latest deal connects borrower retention technology with Maxwell's origination platform and PLACE's real estate network, creating new opportunities for lenders

Oct 09, 2026
Equifax, TransUnion Launch New Tools To Cut Credit Report Costs

Both bureaus introduce ways to purchase credit scores separately from reports, while Equifax reports growing VantageScore adoption and extends $1 pricing through 2028

Oct 09, 2026