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US construction job openings ‘extraordinarily low’ in October
10 December 2025
The number of job openings in the US construction industry sits at an “extraordinarily low” level, as the sector continues to shrink in 2025.
A freeway under construction in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, USA (Image: Zenstratus via AdobeStock)
That’s according to analysis of official data by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).
Industry job openings fell by 18,000 in October, data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) showed. That was down by 36,000 compared to the same time last year.
JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting.
ABC chief economist Anirban Basu also noted that hires fell sharply for the month.
“This is consistent with other recent data, most of which has shown that the construction industry has been in a state of contraction throughout the majority of 2025,” he said.
“Because of the government shutdown, this JOLTS release is the most current indication of construction industry activity, and more updated data will not be available until later this month,” said Basu.
Nonetheless, Basu said that contractors continue to remain optimistic about their hiring intentions over the next six months.
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