AGC Report: Contractors Have ‘Dampened’ Expectations for 2026

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Construction contractors have “dampened” expectations for 2026, aside from surging demand for data centers and power facilities, amid broader worries about the direction of the economy, according to Dampened Expectations: The 2026 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook, which the Associated General Contractors of America and Sage released. In addition to lower expectations, contractors report they have been impacted by tariffs, enhanced immigration enforcement and challenges finding qualified workers. “While there are pockets of optimism in select private-sector markets, contractors’ overall sentiment has dampened notably compared to last year,” said Jeffrey Shoaf, the association’s CEO. “One reason for their lowered expectations is … Read more

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ABC: Construction Lost 11,000 Jobs in December, Added Just 14,000 Jobs in 2025

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The construction industry lost 11,000 jobs on net in December, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment grew by 14,000 jobs, an increase of 0.2%. Nonresidential construction employment decreased by 7,800 positions on net, with losses in 2 of the 3 subcategories. Heavy and civil engineering added 2,300 jobs, while nonresidential specialty trade and nonresidential building lost 8,900 and 1,200 jobs, respectively. The construction unemployment rate was 5.0% in December. Unemployment across all industries dropped to 4.4% but is 0.3 percentage points higher … Read more

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Construction Job Openings Rebound by 90,000 in November 2025

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The construction industry had 292,000 job openings on the last day of November, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting. Industry job openings increased by 90,000 during the month and are up by 15,000 from the same time last year. “Construction job openings rose meaningfully in November and were up on a year-over-year basis for the first time since July,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “At the … Read more

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ABC: Nonresidential Construction Adds 28,800 Jobs in November

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The construction industry added 28,000 jobs on net in November, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment has expanded by 58,000 jobs, an increase of 0.7%. Nonresidential construction employment increased by 28,800 positions, with gains in all three subcategories. Nonresidential specialty trade added 18,700 jobs, while nonresidential building and heavy and civil engineering added 5,100 and 5,000 jobs, respectively. The construction unemployment rate was 4.1% in November. Unemployment across all industries rose to 4.6% and is 0.4 percentage points higher than one year ago. … Read more

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Dodge Momentum Index Decreases 1% in November

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The Dodge Momentum Index, issued by Dodge Construction Network, decreased 1.1% in November to 276.8 (2000=100) from the downwardly revised October reading of 280.0. Over the month, commercial planning ticked down 0.1% and institutional planning declined by 3.4%. Year-to-date, the DMI is up 36% from the average reading over the same period in 2024. On the commercial side, activity slowed down for warehouses and hotels, while planning momentum was sustained for data centers, traditional office buildings and retail stores. On the institutional side, education, healthcare, public and recreational planning saw weaker momentum, after strong activity in recent months. Planning for … Read more

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