Construction Employment Increases By 11,000 In June And 64,000 Over 12 Months; Industry Association Warns Gains May Fade Absent New Highway Funding Bill

Industry Employment and Wages Continue to Rise Faster Than Overall Labor Market as Association is Set to Release, Later Today, New National Polling Showing Broad, Bipartisan Support for a New Highway Bill

Construction firms added 11,000 jobs in June and 64,000 over 12 months, as pay for craft workers climbed faster than for production workers overall, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government data released today. Association officials cautioned, however, that future construction job gains are at risk unless Congress acts quickly to pass new highway and transit legislation before the current law expires on Sept. 30.

"Nonresidential construction firms have consistently added to their headcount and boosted pay at higher rates than other employers," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "However, the highest percentage gains in jobs are in the sector that is vulnerable to a lapse in federal support for highway, bridge and transit investments."

Construction employment totaled 8,331,000 in June, seasonally adjusted, an increase of 11,000 from May. Over the past 12 months, the industry has added 64,000 jobs, an increase of 0.8 percent, outpacing the 0.3 percent increase in total nonfarm payroll employment.

Gains in the industry were concentrated in nonresidential construction, with the steepest growth rate occurring in heavy and civil engineering construction, the sector that employs many highway and transit construction workers. Nonresidential firms added 19,900 employees in June and 113,400 positions or 2.3 percent over the past 12 months. Among nonresidential firms, heavy and civil engineering construction employment increased by 2,600 positions for the month and 28,300 or 2.4 percent since June 2025.

Employment among nonresidential specialty trade contractors rose by 14,100 jobs for the month and 63,700 or 2.2 percent over the year, while nonresidential building contractors added 3,200 employees in June and 21,200 or 2.3 percent over 12 months.

Meanwhile, residential construction firms shed 8,600 positions in June and 48,800 (-1.5 percent) over the year. Residential specialty trade contractors lost 5,700 employees for the month and 34,400 (-1.4 percent) since June 2025, while residential building contractors cut 2,900 jobs in June and 14,400 (-1.5 percent) over 12 months.

Average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees in construction, which covers most onsite craft workers as well as many office staff, increased to $39.06 per hour in June. That figure is 20.6 percent higher than the average for all private-sector production employees. Construction pay rose by 4.8 percent over the past year, compared to a 3.4 percent gain for production workers in the overall private sector.

Association officials noted that they will be releasing new national and 50-state polling showing broad, bipartisan support for having Congress pass a new highway and transportation bill by Sept. 30. The association is holding a virtual media briefing at 1 p.m. EDT today to release the polling and call on Congress to act quickly to protect future construction jobs and national economic growth.

"Many Americans report they have been directly, negatively, impacted by poor road conditions and that they want Congress to make transportation investments a priority," said Jeffrey D. Shoaf, the chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America. "That is why we are using our America's Moving Forward campaign to push Congress to act as quickly as possible."

View the construction employment data.