2026 Construction Outlook Update – Workforce Snapshot

2026 Construction Outlook Update – Workforce Snapshot

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2026 Construction Outlook Update – Workforce Snapshot

Overview

This year’s Workforce Snapshot highlights the remarkable diversity of our workforce and the industry’s vital role in expanding opportunity for people of many backgrounds, languages, and national origins. As that diversity continues to grow, the industry is helping turn New York’s extraordinary mix of talent, cultures, and experiences into real pathways to economic opportunity.

The construction workforce in this report includes workers engaged in building and infrastructure projects, design, site preparation and excavation, governmental activities, and consulting on various construction activities, as self-reported in the 2024 American Community Survey (ACS).

The data shows a hopeful return to pre-pandemic workforce numbers by the end of 2027, however, this forecast must be viewed in the context of previous years’ data indicating an earlier return to that level. Tremendous market uncertainties in recent years, including unclear tariff policies, as well as threatened and actual cuts to government funding, have widespread negative effects on workforce predictability. This makes industry advocacy all the more important to assure we reach this goal.

Statewide, the construction workforce rose to 568,000 workers in 2024, indicating a 97.9% recovery to pre-pandemic employment levels of 585,000.

The labor force within New York City took a small step forward in 2023 from 247,000 to 253,000 workers in 2024. At this level, 73% or 185,000 workers were residents of New York City. New York City now accounts for 45% of all construction workers in New York State, much like last year.

2024 showed an industry that has more young professionals than ever before, is more diverse than ever before, speaks more languages than ever before, and one with higher earnings than ever before, with modest, but upward shifts in statewide earnings across the industry.

This report makes clear that the construction industry offers robust economic opportunity for a workforce as diverse as it has been at any point in the past century.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR AND PRESIDENT & CEO

In New York, the construction workforce stands at the center of the city’s strength, ambition, and momentum. Their talent, grit, and determination shape the skyline, modernize essential infrastructure, and keep our economy moving forward. Every tower raised, transit upgrade completed, and public asset improved reflects the extraordinary skill and commitment of the men and women who build this city. Their work is powered by years of training, hard-earned expertise, and pride in what they create for future generations.

That is why this moment calls for robust support and renewed investment in the people who make New York possible. The Building Congress remains firmly committed to championing the policies, resources, and partnerships our workforce needs to thrive. With strong leadership and a shared sense of purpose, we can create more opportunity, deliver more progress, and build a stronger New York for the future.

LOOKING AHEAD

Though limited, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data on workers employed in the “Construction of Buildings, Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction, and Specialty Trade Contractors” largely follows the same direction as ACS data, allowing us to make a reasonable projection that by the end of 2026 the construction workforce is estimated to comprise about 578,000 workers. However, it must be monitored while we consider factors such as uncertain federal spending and immigration policies.

DEMOGRAPHICS

RACE-ETHNICITY

The racial-ethnic composition of New York’s construction labor force is highly diverse statewide, with 45% of the industry’s workers identifying as non-White, unchanged from 2023.

Comparatively, the workforce in NYC is even more so, with 66% non-White workers, virtually unchanged from 2023.

The racial-ethnic composition of New York State’s construction labor force differs markedly from that of New York City. White non-Hispanics comprise 55% of the State’s construction workforce as of 2024, accounting for 312,200 workers. At 31% of total in 2024, Hispanics have maintained their share and represent the largest minority component with nearly 177,000 construction workers, up from 167,900 in 2023.

In New York City, no single race or ethnicity represents a majority of the total, with Hispanics comprising the largest share at 44% in 2024. They are followed by White non-Hispanics at 34% of total, Black non-Hispanics at 10% and Asian/Other at 8.7%. During 2024, the White non-Hispanic labor force grew by 4,800 workers or nearly 6% while the much larger Hispanic component increased by 3.6%, adding 3,900 workers. Meanwhile, Black non-Hispanics declined by nearly 1,500 workers as a nearly equivalent Asian workforce expanded by
500 workers.

GENDER

Statewide, 9.2% of all construction laborers are women, up slightly (0.1%) from 2023. However 9-10% has been a stable share, virtually unchanged over the past few years.

In NYC, 8.7% of all construction industry workers are women, up 0.7% from 2023.

Similar to the prior year, 66% of women in the industry across the state have some college education or higher, up considerably from 61% in 2022, compared to 36% of men in the industry.

Within NYC, education levels follow that of the state, with 66% of women in the workforce having some college education or higher compared to 33% of men. Within the city 4% of all participating women fall into the “no schooling” category, with men reaching only 5%.

Women’s higher educational attainment also correlates with higher household incomes. In 2024, 47% of all male workers reported household incomes above $125,000 annually compared to 49% of women earning over $125,000.

AGE

45.4% of construction workers in New York State are between the ages of 25 and 45 years old (virtually unchanged from 2023). 34.7% of NY construction workers are 50 or older (down from 35.6% in 2023), while 8% are under 25 years old, up from 7.5% the prior year, showing an increasing and beneficial trend for the industry, as that is up from 6.6% in 2021, as well.

Within NYC, the age structure of construction labor is marginally younger, as 48.5% are between the ages of 25 and 45 years old (up from 47.9% in 2023). 31.9% are 50 or older (down from 34% in 2023), while 6.2% are under 25 years old, up slightly from 6.1% in 2023, trending up from 4.9% in 2020.

LANGUAGE/BACKGROUND

English is the most prevalent language in New York State, spoken by 58% of all construction workers in 2024, down from 60% in 2023. Spanish remains the second-most common language at 28% (26% in 2023), while no other primary language exceeds 2% of the workforce.

Within NYC, English is the primary language spoken by 40.9% (up from 40.1% in 2023) of the construction industry labor force. Spanish places a close second at 35.5% of workers, with all other languages each accounting for a few percent or less each. Of note, Chinese speaking workers have increased in proportion from 3 to 3.5% year over year.

15% of the statewide construction labor force noted having full citizenship status, while the majority (61%) were unreported. This breaks a trend in recent years, as the share of the workforce with full citizenship was increasing year over year, up from 14.8% in 2021, and 15.7% in 2022, and 16.7% in 2023, while those not reporting citizenship data is generally decreasing year over year, from 64% in 2021, to 61% in 2022, and 60% in 2023.

In NYC, 23% of the construction labor force report full citizenship status, while roughly 38% are non-citizens and the remaining 39% are nonrespondents.

Bottom Line: The increasing number of immigrants and non-English speakers into the workforce has demonstrated a positive correlation with the overall educational attainment within the construction industry. This underscores the invaluable strength that diversity contributes to our field.

KEY INSIGHTS

The challenges linked to an increasingly older construction workforce have raised widespread industry concern. Trends for the past two years show a slow reversal of this trend as younger workers join the industry. Aided by this is the high level of diversity within the state’s construction sector, which contributes to the trend as the younger workforce tends to be more diverse.

In New York State 56% of the non-White workforce is between ages 30 and 49, while only 43% of the White workforce falls into those ages. 40% of the White workforce is over 50, while 28% of the non-White workforce is over 50. 7.2% of the White workforce is over age 65, compared to only 2.9% of the non-White workforce. Statewide, the age structure of construction labor is marginally older than in New York City, owing to the stronger representation of white non-Hispanics in the overall labor force.

Within the city, 54% of the non-White workforce is between ages 30 to 49, while 50% of the White workforce falls into those ages. 37% of the White workforce is over 50, while only 30% of the non-White workforce is over 50. 4.7% of the White workforce in NYC is over age 65, compared to only 3.7% of the non-White workforce.

Within both the city and state, it is promising to observe a trend showing an increasing proportion of workers under the age of 25 over the last couple of years , indicating the emerging influence of new generations making strides within the industry. Across NYS, 8% of workers in 2024 were under age 25, a share that has risen from 6.6% in 2021 and 7.5% in 2023. Across NYC, the share of workers under age 25 has generally increased in recent years, rising from 4.90% in 2020 to 6.20% in 2024, despite some fluctuations along the way.

EMPLOYMENT/INCOME

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

Many construction worker households rely on multiple sources of income. Due to the intermittent nature of construction work, especially during longer off-seasons, a steady and dependable income stream is essential.

In 2024, 60.2% of the state’s construction labor force reported a household income of $100,000 or above, with 48% of all households having an annual income that exceeded $125,000. This is fairly consistent, yet higher than last year’s statewide proportions, which reported 60% having incomes above $100,000 and 47% above $125,000. Within NYC, 59.7% of the workforce reported incomes over $100,000 and 47.1% over $125,000. This is a clear trend of growth from 2023 in which 57.6% earned over $100,000 and only 46% earning over $125,000.

Our workforce is earning more than ever before, further solidifying the construction industry as a real pathway into the middle class.

EARNINGS

The annual earnings of construction workers throughout New York City are higher than those in New York State, as 32% of workers in NYC earn over $75,000, compared to only 31% statewide. Statewide earnings are overall trending higher than in prior periods, as only 30% earned over $75,000 in 2023, 28% in 2022, and 27% in 2021.

When compared on a bracketed basis, the differences are most apparent in the upper income ranges:

In 2024, 19% of all construction workers statewide earned over $100,000, which is a consistent trend of growth moving up from 15% in 2021, 16% in 2022, and 17.5% in 2023. Within the city we see a similar growth trend, with 21% earning over $100,000 in 2024 compared to 16% in 2021 and 18% the following two years.

This upward shift is also reflected across gender groups. Statewide, 12% of women in the workforce reported earning over $125,000, compared to 10% of men. A similar pattern holds within NYC, where 15% of women reported earnings above $125,000, compared to 11% of men, reinforcing the broader trend toward higher earnings across the industry.

KEY INSIGHTS: HIGHER EARNINGS (IN DEPTH)

The chart above shows the distribution of workers shifting year-over year. This is most pronounced on the higher and lower ends of the income ranges, where the percentage of workers earning less than 50K increased slightly, the percentage of workers earning between $50-$100k decreased, shifting to higher income brackets, as the percentage of workers earning above $100k grew year-over-year.

HEALTH INSURANCE

Across New York State, health insurance coverage of construction workers decreased slightly in 2024 at 83% versus 84% in both 2023 and 2022.

Statewide, workers who have the highest insurance coverage are “white collar” workers, with 94% having insurance coverage— 22% of the overall workforce. The next highest coverage is service workers at 93%, representing 5.4% of the total workforce insured. Only 79% of “blue collar” workers reported having health insurance, representing 73% of the total workforce covered by health insurance.

OCCUPATION

Statewide, the occupational composition of the construction labor force is oriented toward higher shares of “white collar”, and service occupations and slightly lower shares of “blue collar” than in New York City. 73% of all workers engaged in the construction industry are “blue collar” workers, including construction, installation, material moving, and production workers. 22% of workers in the industry are “white collar” workers including managers, architect and engineers, while 5.4% are in service occupations such as office and administrative support and sales.

Within NYC, 76% of all workers in the industry are “blue collar” workers, with only 21% “white collar” workers and 3.2% service occupations. Citywide, “blue collar” occupations have decreased in share over the past 2 years, down from 80% in 2022, while “white collar” occupations grew from 17% in 2022.

SECTOR

72% of NYS construction industry workers are employed in the private sector. Another 8.5% work for government and non-profit institutions, while self-employment encompasses 19% of all construction workers in 2024. Within NYC private sector opportunities are relatively more available with most construction workers, or 77% of total, employed in the private sector. Another 8% work for government and private non-profit institutions, while 14% were self-employed.

“With New York’s construction workforce expanding in both size and diversity, our industry offers family-sustaining wages that secure middle-class careers for New Yorkers of all backgrounds,” said Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “As we tackle ambitious infrastructure projects, it is vital we safeguard federal funding to maintain the momentum that fuels economic growth across our state. By strengthening apprenticeship programs, including M/WBE participation, and continuing support for younger workers, we can maintain a robust workforce pipeline and resilient industry that keeps every New Yorker invested in building up our shared future.”

TRAVEL

MODE OF TRANSPORTATION

In pre-COVID years, nearly half of New York City’s construction labor force commuted via public transportation. During the pandemic, however, private motor vehicle use briefly became the dominant mode. Since 2023, public transportation has re-emerged as the primary commuting option, accounting for approximately 48% of workers in 2024, up from 44.5% in 2022. This shift is also reflected in absolute terms, with the number of workers commuting via public transit rising significantly over the decade, while private vehicle use has decreased from 44% in 2023 to 42.8% in 2024. Public transit usage is largely driven by the subway system, followed by buses, with comparatively fewer workers relying on commuter rail. As this data is from 2024, it has yet to include the impact of congestion pricing, which took effect in January, 2025. As such, we expect to see a dip in private vehicle use in next year’s workforce report.

Commuting patterns also reflect broader regional dynamics. Declines in the number of New Jersey-based workers employed on NYC construction sites have contributed to reduced commuter rail usage, while modest increases have been observed among Long Island residents.

Statewide, commuting patterns differ markedly. Private motor vehicles remain the dominant mode of transportation among construction workers, accounting for 67.2% of commutes, although this share has edged down slightly in recent years. Public transportation represents a much smaller share at 23.1%, though it has been gradually increasing.

TRAVEL TIME

Surprisingly, travel times statewide are much shorter in duration than those in NYC, with roughly 43% taking less than 30 minutes of travel time to work, compared to 20% in NYC. 25% of workers had commute times greater than 60 minutes in NYS, with around 42% in NYC.

Long commutes within New York City are likely tied to surging housing costs, forcing many in the industry to work further away from high-cost Central Business Districts.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND GOALS

A staggering 91% of international engineering graduates are forced to leave the country despite getting an education here. All while the annual shortage of engineers nationwide is pinned at approximately 18,000¹. This growing “brain drain” undermines our long-term capacity to deliver complex infrastructure, buildings, and energy systems at the scale our economy requires.

We must continue to grow our commitment to expanding our workforce and providing more accessible pathways to the middle class for workers of all backgrounds. That includes not only strengthening domestic training pipelines, but also giving employers tools to retain the global talent that has already been educated and trained here.

Specifically, we support:

1. Immigration tools that directly address this issue, starting with a federal H-1B visa cap exemption and fast-track approval program for government-funded infrastructure, targeted to U.S.-educated and U.S.-trained workers in critical fields such as engineering, architecture, construction management, planning, and key technical trades. This program would build on the existing statutory framework that limits cap-exempt H-1B eligibility largely to higher education and nonprofit or governmental research organizations. Our goal is to create a national “critical infrastructure” H-1B designation that recognizes the essential nature of this work, reduces uncertainty for employers and workers, and allows qualified project teams to rapidly secure talent for high-demand positions rather than losing it to other regions or countries.
2. Decreasing fees for federal certification and required training courses, particularly OSHA.
3. Increasing Workforce Innovation and Opportunity programs such as the Youth Activities program, the Adult Employment and Training Activities program, and the Dislocated Worker Employment and Training Activities program.
4. Expand Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs: Enhance CTE programs in New York public schools to better prepare students for high-demand careers in Architecture, Engineering, and Technology. Increase investment in science, technology, engineering and math (STEAM) childhood and professional education.
5. The New York Building Congress’s Young Professionals Committee has been active in engaging and attracting younger workers to the construction industry. As noted earlier, the workforce within NYC under 25 years old has steadily increased. We will aim to build off this success and continue to retain and grow the building industry’s next generation of leaders.
6. Increase M/WBE participation statewide by developing a one-stop-shop for M/WBE firms to bid on all state, city, and public authority projects in one place, we can proactively increase the number of M/WBE firms involved in such public works projects.
7. Incentivize the expansion of childcare hours so that families who work in this industry have adequate childcare when they are required to be on job sites during non-traditional hours.

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1. https://www.acec.org/resource/firm-of-the-future-the-workforce-of-the-future/

APPRENTICESHIP AND PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS

The New York Building Foundation (the charitable arm of the New York Building Congress) along with our members award scholarships and provide workforce training programs to enhance our industry. One great example is the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council’s Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship Programs, which engage with thousands of New Yorkers each year. Statewide, approximately 13,000 New Yorkers are apprentices. Through extensive outreach and recruitment efforts each year, roughly 3,000 workers enroll annually in these apprenticeship programs, which maintain a retention rate of over 80%. These programs can continue to grow with robust public support for labor.

Statewide Programs Include:

• The Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills, Inc.
• Nontraditional Employment for Women
• New York Helmets to Hardhats
• Pathways to Apprenticeship

INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING

The $1.2 trillion infrastructure funding bill expires in fiscal year 2026. It is imperative that a new, comprehensive Surface Transportation Reauthorization is created in its place to solidify the gains our nation has made in terms of infrastructure improvements. We will encourage elected officials to maximize the amount of funding that can be spent on workforce development through this new spending package.