The number of building construction employees remained stable from April to May 2013 with a slight 0.1 percent decrease, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS estimates that approximately 1.269 million (seasonally adjusted) were employed in building construction-related jobs in April 2013, compared with 1.268 million in May 2013.
This represents a 0.3 -percent increase over last May, at which time approximately 1.234 million were employed in building construction-related jobs.
On the nonresidential side, construction-related employment was down 0.4 percent from April to May—from 679,700 to 677,100. Year-to-year numbers, however, were up on the nonresidential side, with a 2.3-percent increase from 661,800 in May 2012 to 677,100 in May 2013.
In residential construction, employment increased 0.2 percent from April to May—from 589,700 to 590,600. Year-to-year, residential construction-related employment also was up 3.2 percent, from 572,500 in May 2012.
| Employees in Building Construction (seasonally adjusted) | |||
| April 2013 | May 2013 | Percent Change from March to April | |
| Construction of buildings | 1,269,400 | 1,267,700 | -0.1 |
| Nonresidential building | 679,700 | 677,100 | -0.4 |
| Residential building | 589,700 | 590,600 | +0.2 |
| Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | |||
