Construction jobs rise as data center concerns grow

Construction employment increased in 192 of 360 metro areas, or 53%, between April 2025 and April 2026, according to an analysis of federal employment data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

• Construction employment increased in 192 of 360 metro areas between April 2025 and April 2026, representing 53% of markets tracked.
• Houston led the nation in construction job gains, adding 8,900 positions, while Davenport-Moline-Rock Island posted the largest percentage increase at 17%.
• Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale recorded the largest construction job loss, shedding 5,000 positions over the year.
• Industry officials warned that opposition to data center projects and uncertainty over federal highway funding could affect future construction employment.

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The association said growing opposition to data center construction and uncertainty over federal transportation funding could threaten future job growth.

“While it is encouraging to see a majority of metros adding construction jobs, the growth is uneven and fragile,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Given how much construction today is being driven by new data centers and infrastructure, the growing backlash to data center construction has the potential to disrupt the industry’s fragile job growth.”

During the 12-month period, 192 metro areas added construction jobs, 117 lost jobs, and employment was unchanged in 51 areas.

The Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Texas, metro area added the most construction jobs, gaining 8,900 positions, a 4% increase. Other leading gains included St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois, with 7,300 jobs added, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with 6,500 jobs, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, North Carolina-South Carolina, with 5,900 jobs and Columbus, Ohio, with 5,700 jobs.

The Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, Iowa-Illinois, metro area recorded the largest percentage increase at 17%, adding 1,700 jobs. Baton Rouge, Eau Claire, Wisconsin and Kankakee, Illinois each posted 13% gains.

Construction employment declined in 117 metro areas. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, California, metro division recorded the largest loss, shedding 5,000 jobs, or 3%. Other notable declines occurred in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, California, with 4,700 jobs lost; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California, with 4,500 jobs lost; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Oregon-Washington, with 4,100 jobs lost; and Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, California, with 3,500 jobs lost.

Lawton, Oklahoma, experienced the steepest percentage decline, with construction employment falling 26%, followed by Fairbanks-College, Alaska, at 18%.

Association officials said local resistance to data center projects could affect one of the construction sector’s stronger growth segments. They also urged Congress to pass a new highway and transit funding bill before the current authorization expires Sept. 30.

“Politics is driving the fate of vital technology and transportation infrastructure projects,” said Jeffrey D. Shoaf, the association’s chief executive officer.