The month of June was a productive one for the construction industry. According to a recent article from Engineering News Record and a press release from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the construction industry added over 6,000 jobs last month. In addition, the jobless rate fell to 8.2% compared to May’s 8.6% – the industry’s best June level in nearly six years, according to the AGC.

In terms of employment for specific construction sectors in June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics listed total construction employment (both residential and nonresidential) as increasing 6.6% from May in their Employment Situation news release. Specialty trade contractor jobs (both residential and nonresidential) also increased by .7%. However, heavy and civil engineering jobs decreased by the same amount.

Although increasing employment and a decreasing jobless rate are both good news, the industry is still a long way off from its peak employment peak in 2006 – before the economic crisis. Nevertheless, Ken Simonson, the chief economist at the AGC, stated that he expects the industry to continue to gradually expand in the months to come.

The infographic below illustrates the addition of jobs in the industry, as well as the sectors that experienced employment growth or decline in June: