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Report: Colorado construction employment rises 3% with 5,600 new jobs
ColoradoBiz Staff //August 21, 2026//
Photo courtesy of James Kim Photography + PC Construction.
Photo courtesy of James Kim Photography + PC Construction.
Report: Colorado construction employment rises 3% with 5,600 new jobs
ColoradoBiz Staff //August 21, 2026//
In Brief:
- Colorado added 5,600 construction jobs year-over-year
- Construction employment reached 189,500 in July
- Colorado ranked 17th in percentage increase nationally
- Ken Simonson cited tariffs and funding uncertainty risks
Colorado added 5,600 construction jobs from July 2025 to July 2026, a 3% increase, according to federal data analyzed by the Associated General Contractors of America.
Construction employment in the state reached 189,500 in July, up from 183,900 a year earlier. Colorado ranked 17th among states and the District of Columbia for its percentage increase.
The state also added 500 construction jobs from June to July, a 0.3% increase.
Nationally, construction employment increased over the year in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Thirteen states lost jobs and employment was unchanged in Vermont. Texas added the most jobs, adding 17,500, while Louisiana recorded the largest percentage increase at 11.4%.
From June to July, 28 states added construction jobs, 18 states and the District of Columbia lost jobs and four states reported no change.
“Construction employment gains were widespread in July on both a monthly and year-over-year basis,” Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, said.
Simonson warned that uncertainty surrounding tariffs, federal highway funding and data center development could affect future construction hiring. The current federal highway and transit funding law expires Sept. 30.
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