New numbers just released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics continue to provide evidence of a post-pandemic construction industry recovery, with more than 231,000 jobs created last year.
For just the month of December alone, notes the report, new construction jobs were up by 28,000.
As always, some segments of the industry did better than others: nonresidential construction employment was up by 17,900; while nonresidential specialty trade contractors posted 10,200 new jobs.
Smaller gains were noted in the heavy and civil engineering sector, up by 1,900 jobs.
In a statement, Anirban Basu, chief economist with the Associated Builders and Contractors, said the overall numbers indicate that “contractors collectively remain in expansion mode despite rising costs of capital and fears of recession.”
Basu added that “though the labor market remains strong and job creation persists, there are indications that wage pressures are easing.”
Overall, according to the BLS, some 4.5 million new jobs were created in all industries in 2022, with a December bump of 223,000.
Upon the release of the new numbers, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh noted that more than 10.7 million new jobs have been created nationally since January 2021, comprising “the most jobs added in any two-year period on record.”
By Garry Boulard
