US Construction Job Quits Reached 190,000 in September 2026 Amid Labor Scarcity
Project management · AEC industry
BLS data showed 190,000 U.S. construction workers quit in September 2026, the highest level since early 2023. Open positions rose 44.7% year over year to 298,000, while contractors curbed layoffs to retain staff amid demand from data center and power projects.
Bureau of Labor Statistics data released in November 2026 showed that 190,000 U.S. construction workers quit in September 2026, marking the highest monthly quit level since the first half of 2023. Construction job openings totaled 298,000 on the final day of September, up 13.7% month over month and 44.7% year over year. Economists from the Associated Builders and Contractors and the Associated General Contractors of America noted that strong demand in nonresidential sectors, such as data centers and power projects, is driving workforce needs even as other sectors remain weak. In response to labor scarcity, industrywide layoffs dropped by 56,000 year over year as contractors sought to retain workers, despite one in four ABC members projecting profit margin contraction over the next six months.
Key takeaways
- U.S. construction quits reached 190,000 in September 2026, the highest monthly level since early 2023.
- Construction job openings reached 298,000 on the last day of September, up 13.7% month over month and 44.7% year over year.
- Industry layoffs dropped by 56,000 year over year as contractors sought to retain existing workers.
- Nonresidential construction demand for data centers and power projects continues to drive hiring needs amid worker shortages.
Source：Construction Dive Read the original ↗
Prepared, checked and automatically published by AI; not individually reviewed by a human.