Long Island construction jobs fall for 12th straight month
Updated
Updated · constructionowners.com · May 2
Long Island construction jobs fall for 12th straight month
6 articles · Updated · constructionowners.com · May 2
Nassau and Suffolk counties lost 3,900 jobs, with employment dropping from 77,800 to 73,900 between February 2025 and February 2026.
AGC warned losses could deepen if Congress does not renew the federal highway and transit funding law before its September 30 expiry.
Nationally, 52% of metro areas added construction jobs, but New York City lost 6,600, while AGC launched a $2 million campaign backing renewed infrastructure spending.
Can a private data center boom offset job losses from expiring public infrastructure funds across the nation?
With the Highway Trust Fund failing, what is the plan to prevent a nationwide infrastructure crisis after September?
Could states build more efficiently by ditching costly federal oversight and funding altogether?
12 Months, 3,900 Jobs Lost: Long Island’s Construction Sector Faces Deepening Downturn
Overview
Long Island's construction sector suffered a 5% job loss over 12 months ending February 2026, driven by a severe labor shortage worsened by restrictive immigration enforcement and uncertainty over federal transportation funding set to expire in September 2026. This scarcity of skilled workers caused labor costs to surge by 11%, leading to higher overall building costs, project delays, and a reduced supply of new housing. These factors intensified the local housing affordability crisis. In response, the industry is adopting selective bidding, digital tools, and investing in apprenticeships, while lobbying for funding renewal and immigration reform to stabilize jobs and support a gradual recovery over the next few years.