Eye On Housing
Average hourly earnings for residential building workers* rose at a slower pace in November. After reaching the highest rate (8%) of 2021 in October, the pace of wage growth has retreated and remained below 4% for the past five consecutive months. The recent slowdown in wage growth will ease inflation pressures. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report,… Read More ›
The count of open, unfilled jobs for the overall economy declined in October, falling from 10.7 million open positions to 10.3 million. This represents a small decrease from a year ago (11.1 million), a sign the labor market is slowing in response to tighter monetary policy. The degree of this slowing will be critical for a potential downshift in the… Read More ›
Average hourly earnings for residential building workers* continue to rise in August but at a slower pace. Wage growth has retreated from the highest rate of 2021. The recent housing slowdown indicates that, while labor demand is still high, employers are cautious about hiring amid a slowing economy and rising interest rates. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)… Read More ›
The count of open, unfilled jobs for the overall economy fell 10% in August, declining from almost 11.2 million to 10.05 million. The decline for open jobs reflects the beginnings of a labor market retreat as the economy slows due to aggressive tightening of monetary policy by the Fed. While the economy continues to face a critical skilled labor shortage,… Read More ›
Average hourly earnings for residential building workers* continue to rise in May as the construction labor market remains tight, meanwhile the growth rate is trending down given tightening financial conditions and increased economic uncertainty. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report, average hourly earnings (AHE) for residential building workers were $29.18 in May 2022, increasing 5% from $27.79… Read More ›
Compared to a year ago, average hourly earnings for residential building workers continue to rise, as the construction labor market remains tight. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report, average hourly earnings (AHE) for residential building workers were $28.66 in February 2022, increasing 6% from $27.01 a year ago. This was 16.7% higher than the manufacturing’s average hourly… Read More ›
Average hourly earnings for residential building workers have been growing fast recently, driven by the tightening construction labor market. Last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the unemployment rate declined to 3.9% in December, the lowest rate since the pandemic. As the labor market remains tight, wages have increased rapidly, particularly in residential building sector. According to… Read More ›
Friday’s post described how, in the construction industry, job layoffs have plunged while unfilled job positions remain elevated (according to the government’s latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover report). If more evidence of a severe supply chain challenge is needed, the record percentages of NAHB members reporting labor shortages in recent surveys can provide it. Let’s turn first to the… Read More ›
According to the most recent American Community Survey (ACS), the number of immigrant workers in construction approached 2.8 million in 2019, the highest level recorded by the ACS. Immigrant workers now account for 24% of the construction workforce, slightly below the 2016 record high share of 24.4%. The share of immigrants is higher in construction trades, reaching 30%. The latest… Read More ›
In October 2020, the spread between the 10-year Treasury yield and the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate, as measured by Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), significantly narrowed as Treasury rates were pushed upward in anticipation of a vaccine breakthrough and a rebound in the labor market and as mortgage rates remained low. At the beginning of October, the 10-year… Read More ›