Quikrete Industry Dashboard: employment numbers

The latest edition of the Quikrete Industry Dashboard shows very little movement on the Unemployment dial. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate held at 6.1% for April, compared to 6.0% for March. The figure has hovered between 6.3% and 6.0% through the first four months of the year. 

The Bureau reported that total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 266,000 in April. Employment in construction was unchanged over the month. Employment in the industry is up by 917,000 over the year but is 196,000 below its February 2020 level.

Notable job gains in leisure and hospitality, other services, and local government education were partially offset by employment declines in temporary help services and in couriers and messengers. 

Stock prices continued to behave in a bullish trajectory. Five companies are above the 100% line for the year: SWK, WY, BECN, DE and BLDR.

Elsewhere on the Quikrete Industry Dashboard, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline increased to $2.95, up from $2.87 one month ago. 

Coming next to the Dashboard: Updates for Monthly Retail Sales – NAICS 444 and NAICS 44413 – will be released May 14.