KEY POINTS
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The construction industry's labor market has slowed significantly in 2025, with weak hiring trends continuing, as highlighted by private sector data during the government shutdown.
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September's average hourly wage is estimated at $40.13, reflecting a consistent annual growth trend of 4%, despite the lack of official government data.
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Weekly hours worked in construction have remained stable at around 39 hours, resulting in an estimated average weekly pay of $1,565.
The jobs picture has seen a significant downturn over the course of the calendar year, and the construction industry is no exception. Monthly job figures typically offer vital insights into the supply-side health of this sector.
However, a Federal government shutdown has prevented the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from collecting and publishing September’s job statistics, an event not seen since 2018.
Despite the absence of official data, alternative sources from the private sector suggest a continuation of recent trends. These sources indicate a slowing labor market combined with weak hiring activity, painting a consistent picture with what observers noted in previous months.
The government shutdown also means that official hourly wage data for September was not reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Still, earlier monthly data from 2025 have consistently shown an annual wage growth of approximately 4%. Building on this trend and the last available construction wage figure of $40.00 per hour for August, we can estimate that the average hourly wage for September would be around $40.13.
Change in Level of U.S. Construction Employment. Month to Month (M-M) Change in 000’s — Total & by Categories — September 2025. Image: ConstructConnect Construction Economy Snapshot
Furthermore, weekly hours worked in the construction industry have remained remarkably stable. Since April, the average workweek has fluctuated within a narrow range, between 38.9 and 39.1 hours. Using a median value of 39 hours per week, the average weekly pay for a construction worker in September is calculated to be approximately $1,565.
This stability in hours, combined with steady wage growth, provides a baseline for understanding compensation trends even without official government reports.
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