---
title: "Is Construction Hiring Still Competitive in 2026, and What Roles Are Hardest to Fill?"
description: "Yes. The construction labor market remains candidate-driven in 2026. According to the AGC, 87% of contractors report open hourly craft positions and 82%…"
url: https://amundsongroup.com/faq/is-construction-hiring-still-competitive-in-2026-and-what-roles-are-hardest-to-f/
published: 2026-10-18
modified: 2026-10-18
publisher: Amundson Group
markdown_of: https://amundsongroup.com/faq/is-construction-hiring-still-competitive-in-2026-and-what-roles-are-hardest-to-f/
---

# Is Construction Hiring Still Competitive in 2026, and What Roles Are Hardest to Fill?

Yes. The construction labor market remains candidate-driven in 2026. According to the AGC, 87% of contractors report open hourly craft positions and 82% report open salaried roles. Construction unemployment sits at approximately 3.1%, an exceptionally tight level. The most difficult trades to fill are electricians, mechanics, HVAC technicians, concrete workers, plumbers, pipefitters, welders, ironworkers, and heavy-equipment operators. At Amundson Group, we place across heavy civil, site development, data centers, rail, tunnels, and wastewater. We maintain a network of 90,000+ construction professionals and have completed 1,200+ placements to date. Our average time from job intake to first qualified resume is 7 hours. If you are hiring or job hunting in these sectors, the shortage of skilled talent means speed and precision matter. Candidates with trade certifications, project leadership experience, or specialized heavy civil and infrastructure skills have real negotiating power right now.

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About Amundson Group: a Houston-headquartered construction recruiting firm placing superintendents, project managers, estimators, foremen and skilled trades with contractors across the United States in heavy civil, site development, paving, data center, rail, tunnels, wastewater and underground utilities. 1,200+ construction placements to date, a network of 90,000+ construction professionals, 250+ companies served, the first qualified resume in about 7 hours and a shortlist in 7 days. Veteran owned, founded in January 2020 by Alex Mowbray, Inc. 5000 honoree in 2024 and 2025, SIA Best Staffing Firms to Work For 2023 and 2024, rated 4.9 on Google. 1336 Brittmoore Rd, Houston, TX 77043. (832) 558-7982. https://amundsongroup.com

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