Around 13,000 new construction jobs were created in March, part of an overall boom nationally in most industries contributing to a 228,000-employment increase.
According to just-released figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare once again was an employment leader with 54,000 news jobs, followed by both the social assistance and retail trade sectors, with 24,000 additional jobs each.
“Employment in transportation and warehousing rose by 23,000 in March,” notes the BLS report, The Employment Situation, “about double the prior 12-month average gain of 12,000.” Job gains in both the couriers and messengers segment as well as truck transportation saw increases of 16,000 and 10,000 respectively.
The latest figures, asserts the Financial Times, surpassed expectations “in a sign of resilience despite the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to the federal workforce.” Remarked the Wall Street Journal: “Employers added jobs in March at a much stronger pace than expected, a sign that the labor market remained solid despite economic uncertainty, government layoffs, and market turbulence.”
In a statement, the White House said that the new jobs report “shows the private sector is roaring back under President Donald J. Trump—smashing expectations for the second straight month as the Golden Age of America is well on its way.”
Overall, the construction industry recorded 8,313,000 jobs in March, up from 8,300,000 the previous month. The largest segment growth was in nonresidential building, with a 22,300 job gain over February, and non-residential specialty trade contractors, recording a 19,300 job jump.
The 228,000 jobs gain in March comes on the heels of a less resilient 110,000 gain in January and February’s 117,000 increase.
Despite such job growth, Ken Simonson, chief economist with the Associated General Contractors of America, warned in a statement: “As steep new tariffs and foreign countries’ retaliatory measures take effect, building costs will rise and projects will be put on hold, posing a threat to employment.”
The site Investopedia, in fact, noted that the new jobs report “may be less useful than usual as a barometer of the economy’s health” because of the Trump administration’s tariff announcement.
April 7, 2025
By Garry Boulard
