TL;DR
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U.S. construction employment increased by a net 11,000 jobs in September, and 25 states recorded gains compared with August. Oregon had the largest monthly increase, while Wisconsin had the largest decline; nationwide construction employment was up 109,000 jobs year over year.
U.S. construction employment rose by a net 11,000 jobs in September, with 25 states adding jobs compared with August, according to an analysis by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The gains came amid a mixed state labor market: 21 states lost construction jobs, while four states and the District of Columbia reported no change.
Oregon recorded the largest monthly increase, adding 2,000 construction jobs, while Wisconsin had the largest decline, losing 3,300, the NAHB analysis reported. The figures cover both residential and non-residential construction. By percentage, Rhode Island posted the strongest monthly increase, at 2.2%, and Alaska had the steepest decrease, at 3.3%.
Over the year, construction employment nationwide grew by 109,000 jobs, or 1.3%, compared with September 2025. Louisiana led states in annual job growth, adding 18,800 construction jobs, and also had the strongest percentage increase, at 13.9%. Georgia recorded the largest annual decline in the number of jobs, down 4,900, while Alaska had the largest percentage decrease, at 5.3%.
The broader employment picture was also uneven. Total U.S. nonfarm payroll employment increased by 29,000 jobs in September, following an increase of 133,000 in August. Nonfarm payrolls rose in 23 states and the District of Columbia from August; 25 states recorded declines. Those states collectively lost 100,100 jobs. New York led monthly nonfarm gains with 19,600, followed by New Jersey with 14,900 and South Carolina with 12,500. Wisconsin had the largest state decline, at 13,700.
Construction Gains Varied by State
The national increase indicates that construction employment grew in September, but the state figures show that the change was far from uniform. Monthly gains in 25 states were offset by losses in 21, and the difference between Oregon’s increase and Wisconsin’s decline points to distinct local employment conditions. These figures describe jobs, not construction output, project starts, wages or the reasons employers added or cut staff.
The annual figures provide a longer comparison: construction employment was 1.3% higher than a year earlier, with Louisiana recording the strongest state growth by both job count and percentage. At the same time, declines in Georgia and Alaska show that national growth did not extend to every state. For workers, contractors and businesses that supply construction materials, the state-level breakdown offers a more localized view than the national total, though it does not by itself explain hiring conditions in a particular trade or market.
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Monthly and Annual Comparisons
The report compares September with August for its monthly figures and compares September with September 2025 for its year-over-year results. Those are different time frames: the 11,000-job net increase is a month-to-month national change, while the 109,000-job increase measures the change over a year. The two totals should not be treated as interchangeable.
The NAHB analysis also places construction within a broader labor-market picture. While construction employment recorded a net national gain, the reported increase in total nonfarm payrolls was 29,000 in September, following 133,000 in August. State nonfarm employment results were mixed as well, with 23 states and D.C. posting gains and 25 states reporting losses. The source material does not provide detailed explanations for these state-by-state changes.
Reasons for State-Level Shifts
The figures establish how construction employment changed by state, but the report material does not identify the causes of the gains or losses. It does not explain whether local changes reflect project demand, seasonal patterns, worker availability, business decisions or other factors. The data also do not specify which construction occupations or types of projects accounted for the changes beyond including both residential and non-residential construction.
The source gives state totals and percentage changes but no detailed methodology, revisions or additional breakdowns in the supplied material. It is therefore not possible from these figures alone to determine how persistent the September changes will be or how they relate to conditions facing individual employers and workers.
Further Data Will Clarify Trends
The next useful comparison will be subsequent monthly employment data, which can show whether September’s state gains and losses continued or reversed. Updated year-over-year figures can also indicate whether national construction job growth remains near the reported 1.3% rate. Until those data are available, the September results offer a snapshot rather than a forecast of future hiring.
Readers tracking a specific state should distinguish construction employment from total nonfarm employment and check the time period attached to each statistic. The reported state rankings describe changes in jobs, but further releases or analysis would be needed to explain the local forces behind them.
Key Questions
How many construction jobs did the U.S. add in September?
The construction sector added a net 11,000 jobs nationwide in September compared with August, according to the NAHB analysis.
Which states had the largest monthly construction job gains and losses?
Oregon added 2,000 jobs, the largest monthly gain by number. Wisconsin lost 3,300, the largest monthly decline.
How did construction employment change over the year?
Nationwide construction employment increased by 109,000 jobs, or 1.3%, compared with September 2025.
Which state had the strongest annual construction job growth?
Louisiana added 18,800 construction jobs over the year and recorded the strongest state percentage increase, at 13.9%.
Did every state add construction jobs in September?
No. Twenty-five states added construction jobs, 21 lost jobs, and four states plus the District of Columbia reported no change compared with August.
Source: rss
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