Construction's February unemployment rate of 21.8% showed improvement over January's 22.5% rate and was a substantial drop from February 2010's 27.1%.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics latest monthly employment snapshot, released on March 4, reports that construction gained 33,000 jobs last month.

But the bureau also note that the industry's February gain followed a loss of 22,000 jobs in January, which it says "may have reflected severe winter weather."

Construction's 21.8% jobless rate also remains the worst among major U.S. industry sectors. Agriculture posted the second-highest rate last month, with 18.4%.

The BLS rates for construction and other industries are not adjusted for seasonal variations. Construction's rate peaks in winter months, when building slows in much of the country.

The February 2010 construction rate of 27.1% was the industry's highest monthly level since at least 2001.

The overall national unemployment rate last month was 8.9%, which BLS notes was "little changed" from January's 9.0%.

Construction Unemployment Rate
(in percent)
2011
February
21.8
January
22.5
2010
December
20.7
November
18.8
October
17.3
September
17.2
August
17.0
July
17.3
June
20.1
May
20.1
April
21.8
March
24.9
February
27.1
January
24.7
2009
December
22.7
November
19.4
October
18.7
September
17.1
August
16.5
July
18.2
June
17.4
May
19.2
April
18.7
March
21.1
February
21.4
January
18.2
Note: Rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics