ConDig (7-Apr-17). US construction employment slowed slightly in March with 6,000 net new jobs added on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

The non-residential construction sector added 13,300 net new jobs for the month, but these gains were outweighed by the loss of 7,600 net jobs in the residential sector.

“While today’s jobs report will be viewed primarily as a disappointment, non-residential construction remains a bright spot, adding 13,000 jobs,” said Anirban Basu, chief economist at the Associated Builders and Contractors Inc (ABC).

“Non-residential construction’s growth is impressive given March’s colder weather, but it represents a slowing from the first two months of the year when the sector averaged 29,100 net new jobs created per month.”

He added that total construction employment also slowed in March from an average of 46,500 jobs per month in the first two months of this year due to job losses in the residential sector.

Construction employment continued to outpace the overall economy, increasing by 2.6% from the year ago period and compares to the broader nonfarm payroll expansion of 1.5%, which ABC said underlined the industry’s economic health.