AGC/NCCER 2026 Survey: Labor Shortages Persist as Market Softens
Construction workforce shortages are still delaying and straining projects even as some market conditions soften, according to the 2026 Workforce Survey from the Associated General Contractors of America and NCCER, ENR reports.
What the Survey Found
The survey finds that demand for workers is not hitting every part of the industry equally. The headline finding is that a softer market has not eased the shortage. Data center work is singled out as a source of strain on labor supply.
NCCER President and CEO Boyd Worsham said fixing the shortage takes more than attracting new people. “As contractors explore ways to secure the future of their workforce, it is critical that the industry takes a holistic approach to workforce development,” Worsham said. “From recruiting and training to retention and advancement, we must commit to investing in our people and making construction a first-choice career.” The full release is posted on the AGC website.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Don’t treat a slower market as a hiring reprieve. The survey says shortages persist despite softer conditions. Firms that cut training budgets or froze craft hiring when bid volume dipped may find the same scarcity waiting when work picks back up.
- Put retention ahead of recruiting. Worsham’s framing covers recruiting, training, retention and advancement. For a 20 to 500 employee firm, that points to a written advancement path (helper to journeyman to foreman) and wage reviews tied to skill gains. This is our inference from his comments, not a survey finding.
- Expect competition for craft labor where data center work is concentrated. If your crews overlap with the trades and regions chasing data center projects, plan for poaching pressure on your best electricians, pipefitters and other skilled hands. Check the AGC release for any trade-by-trade breakdown before locking 2027 wage bands.
- Use NCCER-style credentialed training as a retention tool. Worsham’s emphasis on development and advancement suggests structured, certified training is the direction the industry is moving. Firms that offer it can use it in hiring and in keeping current crews.
