Construction Jobs Up in 30 States, But Uncertainty Looms

AGC’s analysis of February 2026 federal employment data shows construction jobs increased in 30 states and D.C. year-over-year, with 22 states posting a one-month gain from January to February. The association flags the headline numbers as cautiously positive but warns that tariff-driven material cost increases and cuts to federal construction programs could reverse the trend. The report covers both residential and nonresidential segments without breaking out trade-level detail.

The state-level pattern matters more than the national number for estimators actively bidding work. Labor markets are not moving uniformly. A state showing strong year-over-year growth likely has tighter sub capacity and faster wage escalation baked into current bids. A state that dropped month-over-month is shedding workers into a market where subs may be more available but also more selective about which GCs they’ll quote. The AGC construction data page is worth bookmarking for tracking these shifts by region before you price your next pursuit.

Read the full story at AGC News.