Construction Worker Shortage Statistics 2026: Labor Gaps, Wages, and Workforce Trends
100+ statistics on the construction labor shortage, wage trends, apprenticeships, and workforce demographics. Data from BLS, AGC, ABC, DOL, NAHB, and industry surveys.
The construction industry employs 8.3 million workers and needs hundreds of thousands more. With 94% of contractors reporting difficulty filling craft positions, wages rising 4%+ annually, and a massive infrastructure bill creating new demand, the labor shortage is reshaping the industry. This report compiles source-verified statistics on the construction workforce for journalists, policymakers, and industry professionals.
Key Findings at a Glance
501,000
Additional workers the construction industry needed to attract in 2024 to meet demand, on top of normal hiring pace.
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)
94%
Of contractors reported having a hard time filling some or all hourly craft positions in 2024.
AGC/NCCER Workforce Survey, 2024
$40.66/hr
Average hourly earnings for all construction employees in February 2026, up 4.0% year-over-year.
BLS Current Employment Statistics via FRED
197,421
Active registered apprentices in construction — the largest apprenticeship industry sector, yet not enough to close the gap.
U.S. Department of Labor, FY 2021
Labor Shortage Scale
Total Construction Workforce
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total construction employees (Feb 2026) | 8,309,000 | BLS CES via FRED |
| Specialty trade contractors | 5,244,100 | BLS CES, Feb 2026 |
| Construction of buildings | 1,866,400 | BLS CES, Feb 2026 |
| Heavy/civil engineering | ~1,199,000 | BLS CES, Feb 2026 |
| Construction establishments | 919,000+ | AGC, Q1 2023 |
Source: BLS Current Employment Statistics via FRED (Series: USCONS)
Unfilled Jobs & Workforce Gap
| Metric | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Construction job openings (JOLTS) | 231,000 | January 2026 |
| Construction job openings | 245,000 | December 2025 |
| Construction job openings | 305,000 | July 2025 (recent peak) |
| Average monthly job vacancies | 383,917 | 2023 average |
| Additional workers needed (ABC) | 501,000 | 2024 |
| Additional workers needed (ABC) | 439,000 | 2025 projection |
| Projected annual openings (BLS) | 649,300/year | 2024–2034 |
Source: BLS JOLTS via FRED; ABC; BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 94% of contractors reported having a hard time filling some or all hourly craft positions (AGC/NCCER 2024 Survey).
- Construction employment projected to grow 7% from 2024–2034, faster than average for all occupations (BLS OOH).
- Monthly hires: 349,000 (Jan 2026); monthly separations: 322,000 — net positive but barely keeping pace (BLS JOLTS).
Wage Trends
Average Hourly Earnings — All Construction Employees
| Period | Avg Hourly Earnings | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | $40.66 | +4.0% |
| February 2025 | $39.09 | +4.2% |
| February 2024 | $37.51 | — |
| December 2023 | $37.43 | +4.8% |
| December 2022 | $35.71 | — |
Source: BLS Current Employment Statistics via FRED (Series: CEU2000000003)
- Average weekly earnings (Feb 2026): $1,612/week, annualized to approximately $83,800.
- Average weekly hours (Feb 2026): 40.3 hours.
- Construction wages have grown 4–5% annually for four consecutive years, consistently above CPI inflation.
Experience Impact on Wages
| Experience Level | Hourly Rate | vs. Entry Level |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (<1 year) | $16.64/hr | — |
| Early career (1–4 years) | $18.69/hr | +12% |
| Mid career (5–9 years) | $20.34/hr | +22% |
| Experienced (10–19 years) | $23.32/hr | +40% |
| Late career (20+ years) | $26.63/hr | +60% |
Source: PayScale, Construction Worker, 2026
Wages by Trade
| Trade | Median Hourly | Median Annual | 10th Pct | 90th Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumber | $27.94 | $60,252 | $18.87 | $42.78 |
| Electrician | $26.91 | $57,790 | $17.69 | $41.76 |
| Carpenter | $25.35 | $53,067 | $17.66 | $40.57 |
| Welder | $22.92 | $48,525 | $17.32 | $31.23 |
| Construction Worker (general) | $19.98 | $51,438 | $14.16 | $31.21 |
Source: PayScale, January–February 2026
Workforce Demographics
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median age of construction workers | 42.3 years | BLS CPS, 2022 |
| Women in construction | ~11% | BLS, 2023 |
| Hispanic/Latino workers | ~30% | BLS CPS, 2022 |
| Foreign-born workers | ~25% | NAHB/BLS, 2022–2023 |
| White workers (incl. Hispanic white) | ~87.9% | BLS CPS, 2022 |
| Black/African American workers | ~6.3% | BLS CPS, 2022 |
| Asian workers | ~2.1% | BLS CPS, 2022 |
- In certain trades (drywall, roofing, painting), the foreign-born share exceeds 40–50% (NAHB/Census ACS).
- Construction unemployment rate (Feb 2026): 6.9% (seasonal — winter months are always higher; Nov 2025 was 4.1%).
Apprenticeship & Training
Registered Apprenticeship Statistics (FY 2021)
| Metric | All Industries | Construction |
|---|---|---|
| Active apprentices | 593,690 | 197,421 (33%) |
| New apprentices registered | 241,849 | — |
| Apprentices completed/graduated | 96,915 | — |
| Active programs | 27,385 | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
Construction is the largest apprenticeship industry sector, accounting for 33% of all active apprentices.
Top Construction Apprenticeship Occupations (FY 2021)
| Occupation | Active Apprentices |
|---|---|
| Electrician | 71,812 |
| Carpenter | 29,800 |
| Plumber | 21,971 |
| Sprinkler Fitter | 17,595 |
| Construction Craft Laborer | 15,009 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
- Most construction trades require 4–5 years of apprenticeship to reach journey-level competency.
- Minimum requirements: 2,000 hours of on-the-job training per year plus 144 hours of technical instruction per year.
- 83% of active programs are employer-only; 17% are joint labor-management programs.
- COVID impact: 12% decrease in new apprentices in FY 2020, followed by a 9% recovery in FY 2021.
Turnover & Retention
| Metric | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly quits rate | 1.7% | January 2026 |
| Monthly quits level | 138,000 workers | January 2026 |
| Monthly hires rate | 4.2% | January 2026 |
| Monthly hires level | 349,000 workers | January 2026 |
| Monthly total separations | 322,000 workers | January 2026 |
Source: BLS JOLTS via FRED
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.
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Productivity
- Construction labor productivity has grown at only 1% annually over the past two decades, compared to 3.6% annually for manufacturing (McKinsey Global Institute).
- Construction is among the least digitized industries in the world (McKinsey).
- Large construction projects typically take 20% longer than scheduled (McKinsey).
- Up to 80% of projects go over budget (McKinsey).
Infrastructure & Housing Impact
Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA)
- Authorized $1.2 trillion in infrastructure spending, including $550 billion in new federal investment above baseline.
- Public highway/street spending (2024): $142.7 billion, up 38.7% from $102.9 billion in 2021 (Statista).
- Over one-third of U.S. bridges require replacement or major rehabilitation (Statista).
Housing Market
- NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (March 2026): 38 (below 50 = negative sentiment).
- 37% of builders cut home prices in March 2026, with an average reduction of 6% (NAHB).
- 64% of builders offering sales incentives — 12th consecutive month above 60% (NAHB).
- Single-family permits (2024): approximately 982,000. Multifamily permits (2025): approximately 517,000 (Statista).
Industry Scale & Spending
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total construction spending (Jan 2026, SAAR) | $2.19 trillion | Census Bureau via FRED |
| Private residential construction (2025) | $905 billion | Statista |
| Private non-residential (2025) | $742.4 billion | Statista |
| Public non-residential (2025) | $504.6 billion | Statista |
| Construction share of GDP | 4.5% | BEA 2024 |
| Projected market size (2029) | ~$2.52 trillion | Statista |
| Employment growth projection (2024–2034) | +7% | BLS OOH |
Methodology and Sources
All statistics in this report are sourced from publicly available government data and industry surveys. Primary sources include:
- BLS: Current Employment Statistics (CES); Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS); Current Population Survey (CPS); Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed via FRED.
- AGC: AGC/NCCER Workforce Survey (2024).
- ABC: 2024 and 2025 Workforce Shortage Projections.
- U.S. Department of Labor: Registered Apprenticeship Statistics (FY 2021).
- U.S. Census Bureau: Construction Spending (C-30); Monthly Housing Starts.
- NAHB: Housing Market Index (March 2026).
- PayScale: Trade-specific wage data (2026).
- McKinsey Global Institute: Reinventing Construction Report.
- Statista: U.S. Construction Industry Overview.
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Analysis of BLS JOLTS data (2023).
Last updated: March 2026.
If you found this data useful, please cite as: “Construction Worker Shortage Statistics 2026: Labor Gaps, Wages, and Workforce Trends,” docjoist.com, March 2026.
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