KEY TAKEAWAYS:

U.S. construction lost 7,000 jobs in August

Industry has declined three straight months despite 2025 gains

Heavy and civil engineering grew by 2,300 jobs

Rising costs, labor shortages weigh on industry outlook

The U.S. construction industry lost some 7,000 jobs in August, marking the third straight month of employment losses, according to an analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Construction is Louisiana’s seventh largest employer, according to data from the bureau. With roughly 139,000 employed, construction constitutes about 7% of the state’s workforce.

Fortunately for Louisiana, the contractor association data showed that heavy and civil engineering construction – such as port improvements and energy infrast

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