It's legitimately tight. Nationally, construction employment hit 8.34 million in mid-2026, with 305,000 open positions and a 3.5% openings rate, and the shortage is acute in salaried roles like project management, estimating, and superintendents. Charlotte's labor market reflects that pressure: metro areas across the country added jobs in only 165 of 360 regions year-over-year, meaning some markets face steeper competition than others. What we're seeing: contractors reporting difficulty filling both craft and management roles, wage pressure rising around 4%, and candidates in PM/superintendent/estimator categories holding real leverage. If you're hiring, speed matters, competitive base pay ($130K, $250K+ depending on role and experience), clear growth path, and responsiveness win placements. If you're a candidate in those disciplines, this is a candidate's market. Amundson Group specializes in senior placements across commercial, civil, industrial, and energy, we understand Charlotte's market dynamics and move fast.