The construction industry added 16,000 jobs in September, dropping the sector’s unemployment rate to 7 percent, the Associated General Contractors of America said.

Some companies are now having difficulty finding qualified workers, said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer.

“While we are eager to see even more construction employment gains, there is no denying the fact that the industry has been in recovery mode for much of the past three years,” Sandherr said. “But the industry won't be able to keep filling positions if there aren't enough qualified workers available to fill them.”

Overall industry employment stood at 6 million, the highest figure since May 2009, the AGC said.