Construction Jobs Rebound, Jumping by 26K in March
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After job declines in February, contractors rebounded in March, adding an estimated 26,000 workers.
NewsBusinessTalentCompaniesWorkforce Workforce Construction Jobs Rebound, Jumping by 26K in March By Scott Judy Graphic by ENR Art Dept. Construction jobs increased by 26,000 positions in March 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. April 3, 2026 A month after construction hiring was reported to have fallen to its slowest rate on record, contractors reversed course and increased hiring in March, collectively adding an estimated 26,000 positions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' April 3 report.As they've done in the past, specialty contractors led the jobs spree, adding an estimated 15,100 positions during March, with residential specialty contractors boosting employment with 11,200 new hires, and nonresidential specialty trade contractors adding an estimated 3,900 positions. Building contractors added 7,600 positions, with companies working primarily in the nonresidential sector hiring 4,500 new workers, and residential-focused contractors filling roughly 3,100 positions. Heavy and civil engineering firms added an estimated 3,800 new workers, according to BLS. “Industrywide employment has expanded by an average of 19,300 jobs per month in 2026,” Associated Builders & Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu said in a statement. “That’s a marked improvement from 2025, when construction employment actually declined." Ken Simonson, chief economist with Associated General Contractors of America, noting the March increase "more than offset" February's 13...
