The U.S. construction industry continued its streak of employment gains in January, adding 28,000 jobs.
The industry now employs 6.615 million Americans, the highest total since December 2008’s total of 6.701 million, according to preliminary data from the Labor Department.
Construction employment has been on the rise for 10 straight months.
The latest data also revised December’s total, increasing it from 6.667 to 6.597 which raises the total number of jobs added during that month from the previously reported 45,000 to 49,000.
The industry’s unemployment rate rose 1 point during December to 8.5 percent.
The U.S. economy added 151,000 jobs and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.9 percent. It is the first time the country’s unemployment rate has dropped below 5 percent since February 2008.