The not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate remained steady at 4.4% in December 2023, unchanged from the previous year, as per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics data analyzed by Associated Builders and Contractors. A total of 25 states showed lower unemployment rates within the same period, while 21 states were higher and four remained unchanged. Also, the National NSA payroll construction employment was 230,000 higher than in December 2022.

From February 2022 to December 2023, seasonally adjusted construction employment surpassed its pre-pandemic peak of 7.6 million. In December 2023, 31 states had lower construction unemployment rates compared to December 2019 while 16 states had higher rates. The industry employment persists to be healthy despite the challenges from high-interest rates. Builders continue to tick off their project backlogs and are filling up some advertised positions, stated Bernard Markstein, president and chief economist of Markstein Advisors.

Although national and state unemployment rates are best evaluated on a year-over-year basis, current economic variations from high-interest rates and energy price fluctuations provide a new perspective on the month-to-month comparisons. In December 2023, 32 states had lower construction unemployment rates than in November, while 17 had higher rates. States like Utah, Maryland, Georgia, Tennessee, and Delaware reported their lowest December NSA estimated construction unemployment rates, setting new records.

Meanwhile, some states, including Alaska, South Dakota, and Vermont, had noteworthy year-over-year decreases in their construction unemployment rates. For a more detailed analysis of the construction unemployment rates and the impact of the pandemic, visit abc.org/economics.

In correlation to unemployment services, if any construction worker, who is currently unemployed and resides in California, needs assistance with their unemployment claim or have questions, they can get in touch with the California Employment Development Department (EDD) for support. The EDD provides a wide range of services, including disability insurance, job service, unemployment insurance, and more. For fastest way to get through to EDD, individuals can contact the department directly through the official website or phone. Visit eddcaller.com for further information on how to contact EDD.