Construction payrolls slip in Oct. 2026: 8.37 million jobs
Seasonally adjusted construction employment was down 3,000 from Sept. 2026 and up 124,000 from a year earlier, according to preliminary Bureau of Labor Statistics figures.
The count
Construction employers had about 8.37 million people on payrolls in Oct. 2026, seasonally adjusted, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' preliminary estimate (Table B-1 of the Employment Situation release). That compares with 8.37 million in Sept. 2026 and 8.24 million in Oct. 2025.
What changed
Month over month the industry was down 3,000; over twelve months it was up 124,000, a change of 1.5 percent. These are our calculations from the table's seasonally adjusted column, in thousands of jobs. The two most recent months are preliminary and BLS revises them in later releases.
Why contractors watch it
Payroll counts are the broadest official read on industry headcount. Pair them with job openings and wage data when planning crews and bids. The next jobs report will revise the Sept. 2026 and Oct. 2026 numbers.
Key facts
- Oct. 2026 (preliminary, SA): 8.37 million
- Sept. 2026 (SA): 8.37 million
- Oct. 2025 (SA): 8.24 million
Data brief written from the official release listed below; changes are our calculations from the published figures.
Spot an error? Email corrections to construction@herecity.com.
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