Construction Employment Increases In 36 States And D.C. From July 2025 To July 2026; 28 States Add Jobs From June To July As Association Warns More Jobs Are At Risk

Texas and Louisiana Have the Largest Number and Percent of 12-Month Increases, While California and Alaska Lag; Illinois and Mississippi Top Monthly Gainers, While Texas and West Virginia Have the Largest Monthly Job Losses

Construction employment increased in 36 states and the District of Columbia from July 2025 to July 2026, while 28 states and D.C. added jobs between June and July, according to an analysis of new federal data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned, however, that several policy developments, including uncertainty surrounding tariffs, highway funding and data center development, threaten to undermine near-term employment increases.

"Construction employment gains were widespread in July on both a monthly and year-over-year basis," said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. "Nevertheless, there are several risks to continuing increases in employment, including a potential lapse in federal highway funding, growing opposition to data centers, and ongoing shifts in tariff policy."

Between July 2025 and July 2026, 36 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs, 13 states shed jobs, and employment was unchanged in Vermont. Texas added the most construction jobs (17,500 jobs, 1.9 percent), followed by Louisiana (15,500 jobs, 11.4 percent), North Carolina (15,400 jobs, 5.5 percent), Ohio (13,700 jobs, 5.3 percent) and Illinois (12,700 jobs, 5.3 percent). Louisiana posted the largest percentage gain over 12 months, followed by Wyoming (6.2 percent, 1,400 jobs), Oklahoma (5.5 percent, 4,900 jobs), North Carolina and Nebraska (5.5 percent, 3,500 jobs).

California lost the most construction jobs from July 2025 to July 2026 (-6,700 jobs, -0.7 percent), followed by Virginia (-5,800 jobs, -2.5 percent), New York (-5,700 jobs, -1.5 percent), New Jersey (-4,900 jobs, -2.9 percent) and Georgia (-3,200 jobs, -1.4 percent). The largest percentage loss was in Alaska (-3.7 percent, -700 jobs), followed by New Jersey, Virginia, New Hampshire (-2.5 percent, -800 jobs) and Maine (-2.5 percent, -900 jobs).

For the month, industry employment increased in 28 states, declined in 18 states and D.C. and was unchanged in Oregon, North Dakota, Delaware and Nebraska. Illinois added the most construction jobs (3,200 jobs, 1.3 percent), followed by Ohio (3,000 jobs, 1.1 percent), California (2,900 jobs, 0.3 percent), Florida (2,900 jobs, 0.4 percent) and Louisiana (2,300 jobs, 1.5 percent). The largest percentage gain occurred in Mississippi (1.9 percent, 1,000 jobs), followed by Rhode Island (1.8 percent, 400 jobs), Louisiana (1.5 percent, 2,300 jobs), and Kansas and Illinois (1.3 percent, 1,000 and 3,200 jobs, respectively).

Texas lost the most construction jobs from June to July (-3,400 jobs, -0.4 percent), followed by Alabama (-2,200 jobs, -1.9 percent), Washington (-2,100 jobs, -1.0 percent), Arizona (-1,300 jobs, -0.6 percent), Virginia (-1,300 jobs, -0.6 percent) and New Jersey (-1,300 jobs, -0.8 percent). The largest percentage loss was in West Virginia (-2.8 percent, -1,000 jobs), followed by Alabama, D.C. (-1.4 percent, -200 jobs), Vermont (-1.2 percent, -200 jobs) and Alaska (-1.1 percent, -200 jobs).

Association officials said that several policy developments could derail some of the industry's strongest sources of demand. Growing state and local resistance to data center development, the lack of progress in Congress on a long-term highway and transit bill, and frequent changes in tariffs on construction materials all pose significant threats to future construction activity.

"Construction firms continue to add workers where demand remains strongest," said Jeffrey D. Shoaf, the association's chief executive officer. "Policymakers can help sustain that momentum by passing a new highway and transit funding bill before the current law expires on September 30, supporting responsible growth in data centers, and avoiding policies that increase the cost of key construction materials and create unnecessary uncertainty for construction employers."

View July 2026 state employment data and 1-month, 12-month rankings.