Construction Job Openings Jump Sharply in November

An analysis of new federal data by Associated Builders and Contractors points to renewed demand for skilled labor in the construction industry, drawing from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.

The latest data shows

• Construction recorded 292,000 job openings at the end of November.
• Openings increased by 90,000 month over month and rose 15,000 year over year.
• Layoffs fell to the lowest level of 2025, matching the second-lowest rate on record.
• Hiring remains slower than at any period prior to 2020, despite improved demand signals.

“While demand for construction workers accelerated in November, hiring remains subdued,” said Anirban Basu, ABC chief economist, noting that contractor optimism for early 2026 may be tempered by ongoing hiring volatility.