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U.S. construction employment recorded a net gain of 11,000 jobs in September, according to an analysis by the National Association of Home Builders. Twenty-five states added construction jobs from August, while 21 lost jobs; year over year, the sector was up 109,000 jobs, or 1.3%, from September 2025.
U.S. construction employment rose by a net 11,000 jobs in September, with 25 states adding construction workers compared with August and 21 reporting declines, according to a state-level data analysis by the National Association of Home Builders. Four states and the District of Columbia reported no change, leaving the national gain alongside a mixed state-by-state picture.
Oregon recorded the largest monthly increase, adding 2,000 construction jobs. Wisconsin had the largest decline, losing 3,300. Measured by percentage change rather than the number of jobs, Rhode Island had the strongest gain at 2.2%, while Alaska recorded the steepest monthly drop at 3.3%.
The year-over-year figures were also positive nationally. Construction employment increased by 109,000 jobs, or 1.3%, compared with September 2025. Louisiana led states in job growth by count, adding 18,800 construction jobs, and also posted the largest percentage increase, at 13.9%. Georgia had the largest annual decline by count, down 4,900 jobs; Alaska had the steepest percentage decrease, at 5.3%.
The broader labor market was uneven as well. Total U.S. nonfarm payroll employment increased by 29,000 jobs in September, after rising by 133,000 in August. On a monthly basis, 23 states and D.C. added nonfarm jobs. New York led with 19,600 additions, followed by New Jersey with 14,900 and South Carolina with 12,500. The 25 states with nonfarm job losses shed a combined 100,100 jobs, with Wisconsin recording the largest decline, at 13,700.
Construction Hiring Across States
The national construction increase shows that the sector added workers overall in September, but the distribution of those gains was far from uniform. Monthly totals differ substantially by state: Oregon had the largest numeric gain, while Wisconsin had the largest loss. Percentage changes also produce a different picture, with Rhode Island and Alaska at opposite ends of the monthly rankings.
For readers following local labor conditions, those differences matter because a national figure can mask hiring changes in individual states. The annual figures add another measure: the sector was up 1.3% from September 2025, while the state results ranged from Louisiana’s strong increase to declines in Georgia and Alaska. The data describe employment changes; they do not, by themselves, explain what drove them or establish how they will affect construction activity, hiring plans, or project costs.
construction employment labor market data report
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Monthly and Annual Comparisons
The figures in the NAHB analysis compare September with two different reference periods. Month-over-month changes are measured against August, while the year-over-year construction total compares September with September 2025. Keeping those periods distinct is necessary: a state’s monthly movement can differ from its annual direction.
The report covers construction employment across residential and non-residential construction. It presents both the number of jobs added or lost and percentage changes. Counts indicate the size of a change, while percentages show its scale relative to the state’s employment base; the rankings need not match. The source material does not provide state employment totals, detailed sector breakdowns, or explanations for individual gains and losses.
Drivers Behind State Changes
The figures establish the direction and size of reported employment changes, but they do not identify their causes. It is not clear from the analysis what factors drove Oregon’s monthly increase, Wisconsin’s decline, or Louisiana’s annual growth. The provided material also does not break results into residential and non-residential jobs or describe changes in hours worked, wages, vacancies, or hiring demand.
The state-level results should not be treated as an explanation of future conditions. The report gives September comparisons, but the supplied information does not establish whether the gains or losses continued in later months. It also does not provide revisions, confidence measures, or additional details about how the reported state estimates may change.
Further Employment Data Needed
The next useful comparison will be subsequent employment data, which can show whether September’s national construction gain and varied state results persisted. Later monthly releases may clarify the trend, but the source material does not identify a specific release date or forecast what those figures will show.
Readers can also watch for updated state-level figures and more detailed construction breakdowns. Until those are available, the September results provide a snapshot: national construction employment increased month over month and year over year, while state outcomes remained mixed.
Key Questions
How many construction jobs did the United States add in September?
The construction sector added a net 11,000 jobs nationwide compared with August, according to the NAHB analysis.
Which state had the largest monthly construction-job gain?
Oregon added 2,000 construction jobs, the largest monthly increase by number of jobs. Rhode Island had the largest percentage increase, at 2.2%.
Which state had the biggest monthly construction-job loss?
Wisconsin lost 3,300 construction jobs, the largest monthly decline by count. Alaska had the steepest percentage decrease, at 3.3%.
How did construction employment change from a year earlier?
National construction employment was up 109,000 jobs, or 1.3%, from September 2025. Louisiana led state gains with 18,800 added jobs, while Georgia had the largest state decline by count, at 4,900.
Does the report explain why employment changed?
No. The provided analysis reports state and national employment changes but does not identify the causes of those changes or give a residential-versus-non-residential breakdown.
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