Construction jobs flat in June, but unemployment rate continues to fall

Following two consecutive months of jobs losses, employment in the U.S. construction industry was flat in June.

Employment held steady at 6.643 million Americans last month, according to preliminary data from the Labor Department.

The department’s latest data also revised the May employment total from the previously reported 6.645 million, down to 6.643 million, bringing the total number of jobs lost that month up to 16,000 from the previously reported 15,000.

Construction industry employment remains 3.3 percent above the June 2015 total.

The industry’s unemployment rate, however, fell again in June from from 5.2 percent to 4.6 percent. That is the lowest unemployment rate the industry has seen since 4.5 percent in October 2006.

The U.S. economy added 287,000 jobs during June, with unemployment rising to 4.9 percent.

Construction employment since January 2006