Meanwhile, dragging down construction's overall June jobs gain were residential contractors—both builders and specialty trade contractors—who combined to lay off an estimated 8,600 positions from the still-cooling housing sector.

Still, officials with Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) viewed the BLS report as positive.

“Today’s jobs report was full of positive signs for the nonresidential side of the industry,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu, in a statement. “The nonresidential segment continued to add jobs in June and has grown several times faster than the economywide average over the past 12 months."

Noting the construction industry's unemployment rate rising to 4.7% in June—thereby reducing wage escalation pressures—Basu commented, "The supply of labor appears adequate to fuel ongoing hiring. With ABC contractors signaling ongoing hiring intentions, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, it appears likely that the industry will continue to expand its employment base over the coming months.”

“Nonresidential construction firms have consistently added to their headcount and boosted pay at higher rates than other employers," concurred AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson, in a statement.

Noting the heavy and civil engineering sector's estimated gain of 2,600 positions in June, Simonson said, “The highest percentage gains in jobs are in the sector that is vulnerable to a lapse in federal support for highway, bridge and transit investments.”