Construction Needs More Than 439,000 New Workers in 2025

Re-Published With Permission From Construction News and Review

By Kerry Smith Buck | Image Courtesy Unsplash

If the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest survey is accurate, the industry will need to hire an additional 439,000 workers during 2025 to keep pace with project labor needs.

The latest Census Bureau Value of Construction Put in Place Survey (VIP) aligns with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest construction employment payroll data.

Construction industry professionals agree that if this ambitious workforce increase doesn’t materialize, construction labor costs could spike.

The Associated General Contractors of America says that if inflation decreases during the first half of 2025, borrowing will become more attractive for owners and the number of projects taking root should go up. While that’s a positive, the association says, ongoing deportation of undocumented immigrants could further exacerbate U.S. labor shortage conditions.

In 2026, the industry is expected to need 499,000 new workers to meet demand if construction spending increases due to lower interest rates.