They may start out by shadowing experienced workers, observing what those workers do and performing tasks under their guidance. High school classes that may be helpful include mathematics, such as algebra and geometry, and those that are part of career and technical education programs, such as construction technology or welding. Formal education is not typically required, but some employers may prefer to hire candidates https://www.riverstonenetworks.com/why-not-learn-more-about-gear.html who have a high school diploma or the equivalent. Construction laborers and helpers learn on the job, often under the guidance of experienced workers. In some parts of the country, construction laborers and helpers may work only during certain seasons.
More specifically, since the start of the year, nearly all of my clients across a range of construction sectors including general contracting, concrete, drywall, steel, HVAC, and civil have been actively searching for top Estimators to join their teams. This is due not only to the high level of skill required to succeed, but also to the limited pool of qualified candidates who meet these highly specified standards. The number of private construction establishments reached approximately 954,000 in Q (preliminary), underscoring the industry’s vast and fragmented structure.
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of construction laborers and helpers with similar https://www.mlb4s.com/squire-creates-operating-system-for-neighborhood-barbershops.html occupations. Construction laborers and helpers perform tasks, such as using, supplying, or holding materials or tools and cleaning work areas and equipment, on construction sites. The net monthly gain (hires minus separations) of approximately 27,000 workers is barely enough to maintain current staffing levels, let alone close the 439,000+ worker gap. “The Academy classes cater to different experience levels and different interests. The industry’s demographics pose an additional challenge as nearly one-fifth of the construction workforce is over 55.
Top Construction Apprenticeship Occupations (FY
The 15% of ABC member contractors working on data centers reported average backlog of 10.6 months, compared to 8.3 months for the 85% not working on data centers. The gap between hiring intentions and hiring reality remains volatile. Both figures represent a shift from the prior year, when 69% planned increases and just 10% planned decreases. Spending is projected to reaccelerate in 2027, and the structural drivers of labor scarcity (retirements, immigration, low career interest) remain firmly in place. ABC’s projected need for 349,000 new workers in 2026 is down from 439,000 in 2025 and over 500,000 in each of the two prior years, driven partly by modest spending growth forecasts.
- Overall employment in construction and extraction occupations is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2025 to 2035.
- According to ABC’s model, every additional $1 billion in construction spending creates demand for approximately 3,450 new jobs.
- The median annual wage for construction laborers and helpers was $46,680 in May 2025.
- The 15% of ABC member contractors working on data centers reported average backlog of 10.6 months, compared to 8.3 months for the 85% not working on data centers.
- While the industry’s total recordable injury rate (2.2 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2024) is actually lower than manufacturing’s 2.7, the fatality picture tells a very different story.
Safety
The most striking signal in the AGC/Sage 2026 Outlook is the emergence of economic slowdown or recession as the industry’s top concern, cited by 62% of firms. The mood has shifted from the expansion-oriented optimism of recent years toward careful risk management, driven by a combination of macroeconomic uncertainty, geopolitical disruption, and persistent workforce constraints. And the firms that are winning that competition right now are the ones building data centers. The combined effect of these cost pressures, uneven demand, and rising economic uncertainty has reshaped how firms approach 2026. Census Bureau projections of significant declines in school-age population cohorts over the next decade continue to weigh on the education outlook.
HBI Construction Labor Market Reports (Spring
This report consolidates publicly available government data and industry research to provide a comprehensive view of the U.S. construction workforce. A recession could temporarily reduce worker demand, easing the shortage in the short term, but it would also slow apprenticeship investment, defer training programs, and drive experienced workers out of the industry permanently. With 62% of firms citing economic slowdown or recession as their top concern for 2026, up from fifth place in the prior year, the industry faces an unusual combination of structural labor scarcity and growing demand https://indaba.us/2025/03/page/5/ uncertainty. The construction hiring rate fell to a record low of 3.3% in February 2026 before partially rebounding in March, even as 63% of firms plan to increase headcount and staffing expectations sit at their highest level since April 2022. The labor market dynamics documented throughout this report add urgency to that timeline.
Firms with strong safety cultures are better positioned to attract and retain workers, reduce workers’ compensation costs, and avoid the project disruptions that follow serious incidents. For construction leaders, safety is not separate from workforce strategy, it is a core component of it. The connection between workforce planning and safety outcomes is direct and material. While the industry’s total recordable injury rate (2.2 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2024) is actually lower than manufacturing’s 2.7, the fatality picture tells a very different story. Construction remains one of the most physically dangerous sectors in the U.S. economy. The U.S.-Iran conflict, rising diesel and materials costs, and higher borrowing costs all contributed to a market in which both workers and employers pulled back simultaneously.
And according to its model, every additional $1 billion spent on construction translates to demand for 3,450 fresh jobs. “Failing to do so will worsen labor shortages, especially in certain occupations and regions, placing further upward pressure on labor costs,” ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu warned in a statement. Macroeconomic context, construction spending forecasts, and sector-level outlook. April 2026 figures are preliminary and subject to BLS revision; February and March 2026 figures reflect revisions published with the April release.
Construction laborers and some helpers need to do basic math calculations, such as when measuring on jobsites or assisting a surveying crew. Construction laborers and helpers need to work as a team, cooperating with and assisting others. Helpers sometimes move into construction trades after gaining experience in the field, along with completing any required credentials or training. After gaining experience, laborers may have opportunities to supervise staff, oversee jobsites, or start their own business.
- April added approximately 9,000 jobs, with nonresidential up roughly 2.0% year-over-year, driven by surging data center construction.
- Although formal education is not typically required, some employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a high school diploma or the equivalent.
- Workers represented by unions, including non-members covered by collective bargaining agreements, totaled 12.0%, up from 11.2% in 2024.
- National benchmarks provide essential context, but construction leaders should evaluate these figures against conditions in their specific markets.
- The degree to which data centers are distorting the broader picture is now quantifiable.
- This tab can include information on education, training, work experience, licensing and certification, and important qualities that are required or helpful for entering or working in the occupation.
Construction laborers work in all fields of construction, and demand for laborers should mirror the level of overall construction activity. Projected employment of construction laborers and helpers varies by occupation (see table). Construction laborers are frequently required to operate and maintain equipment, such as jackhammers.
With Dodge Construction Network reporting that commercial planning momentum was up 28.5% year-over-year in March but down 12.7% when data centers are removed, the gravitational pull of this single segment on the broader labor supply is only intensifying. Six percent of firms report a jobsite or offsite was visited by immigration agents, 11% say workers left or failed to appear because of actual or rumored enforcement actions, and 24% report subcontractors lost workers. Apprenticeships and licensing require years of training, meaning the replacement pipeline cannot be built overnight. Roughly one in five construction workers is over the age of 55, and Deloitte projects that 41% of the current construction workforce will retire by 2031, while only 10% of current workers are under 25. Critically, the majority of near-term new-worker demand is driven by retirement rather than growth.
