The United States and more than half of the states (27) posted their lowest July construction unemployment rate on record. It is also the first time since August 2017 that all 50 states had a construction unemployment rate under 10 percent.

The June 2018 not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate increased 0.2 percent to 4.7 percent from June 2017. At the same time, the construction industry employed 282,000 more workers nationally than in June 2017.

While the strong U.S. economy contributed to a positive forecast, a rapid rise in interest rates and materials prices could cause a dip in construction sector spending, especially given ongoing international trade issues.

The construction industry has added 282,000 net new jobs during the past calendar year, a 4.1 percent increase.

The May 2018 not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate fell 0.9 percent from May 2017 to 4.4 percent, the lowest May rate on record. At the same time, the construction industry employed 291,000 more workers nationally than in May 2017. 

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), a national construction industry trade association with nearly 21,000 members across 70 chapters throughout the U.S., has named Dexter + Chaney, a cloud-based construction ERP software and developer of Spectrum^® Construction Software, to the exclusive list of ABC strategic partners. Dexter + Chaney will join ABC’s other strategic partners, CNA, Tradesmen International, Fringe Benefit Group, Autodesk, and United Rentals.