Industrywide Labor Demand Drops Sharply, Raising Concerns for the Natural Stone Sector
The U.S. construction industry is witnessing a historic slowdown in workforce expansion, as hiring in March fell to the lowest rate ever recorded, according to a report by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Construction job openings decreased by 38,000 from the previous month, with only 248,000 open positions on the last day of March. This marks a 27% decline compared to the same period in 2024, when the industry recorded 90,000 more vacancies. More strikingly, just 302,000 workers were hired in March, representing only 3.6% of total construction employment — the lowest hiring rate since records began.
“Construction job openings continued to trend lower in March, a clear sign of slowing industrywide demand for labor,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Hiring activity was particularly weak for the month.”
This significant contraction in construction hiring is a critical warning signal not only for contractors and developers, but also for adjacent sectors like natural stone, which depend heavily on the pace and volume of construction activity.
The natural stone industry — encompassing quarrying, processing, and distribution of materials such as granite, marble, and quartzite — is deeply interconnected with commercial and residential construction trends. When hiring slows, it often reflects broader hesitation in launching or progressing projects, which in turn can lead to declines in material orders, installation work, and long-term investment in the supply chain.
With overall hires down 10% year-over-year, companies in the natural stone sector may begin to feel the effects in the form of reduced demand, shifting client timelines, and heightened competition for fewer projects.
As the U.S. construction industry grapples with economic headwinds and uncertain market conditions, businesses across the natural stone value chain must prepare for a potential period of contraction, while exploring strategies to diversify services, manage costs, and invest in innovation to remain resilient.
