The construction industry reported 188,000 job openings on the last day of August, marking a steep decline of 115,000 from the previous month and the lowest rate in nearly a decade, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu noted that while the data can be volatile, the drop reflects broader cooling trends in construction spending and employment, even as contractors remain cautiously optimistic about the months ahead.

JOLTS defines a job opening as an unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting. The number of available construction jobs fell by 115,000 from July and 116,000 year over year, signaling a sharp slowdown in hiring demand.

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“While this data series can fluctuate month to month, the steep drop in openings aligns with other indicators—such as construction spending and employment—which have also declined in recent months," said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. "Contractors remain cautiously optimistic about the next six months, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, but the latest data makes it clear that the industry is currently contracting.”