Construction employment rose 8.8% from a year earlier in 2026, with AGC saying the industry has outperformed expectations as nonresidential hiring and project demand strengthened.
Nonresidential building starts climbed 19% year to date, led by a 244% leap in office and data center projects; commercial starts rose 74% and total construction starts gained 6.4% through May.
Data centers remain the main engine, with spending running near $50 billion a month and sector growth reaching 28% year over year in April.
Contractors still face rising costs — diesel fuel was up 74% year over year — alongside higher prices for steel, copper, aluminum, trucking and other transport services after tariffs and energy shocks.
Residential starts fell 20% and some Wisconsin communities have pushed back on large data center projects, even as power, water, sewage, military and healthcare construction show broader growth beyond megaprojects.