Despite the loss of 1,000 jobs in March, the nation’s construction industry unemployment rate edged down to 20% for the month, according to an April 1 employment report by the U.S. Dept. of Labor. Year-over-year, construction employment is down by 36,000 jobs, or 0.6%. The rate is down from 21.8% in February and 24.9% posted in March 2010.
Nonresidential building construction now supports 658,100 jobs in the U.S. The sector added 2,600 for the month but has lost 1,800 jobs, or 0.3% of job totals, on a year-over-year basis. The specialty trade contractor segment lost 6,700 jobs in March and has lost 41,000 jobs, or 1.2%, over the last 12 months. Heavy and civil engineering construction gained 2,400 jobs for the month and has added 25,100 jobs, or 3.1%, from March 2010.