---
title: "Is Construction Recruiting Hard Right Now? Why Are There So Many Open Jobs?"
description: "Yes. The U.S. construction labor market is candidate-constrained in 2026. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction employment stands at…"
url: https://amundsongroup.com/faq/is-construction-recruiting-hard-right-now-why-are-there-so-many-open-jobs/
published: 2026-10-16
modified: 2026-10-25
publisher: Amundson Group
markdown_of: https://amundsongroup.com/faq/is-construction-recruiting-hard-right-now-why-are-there-so-many-open-jobs/
---

# Is Construction Recruiting Hard Right Now? Why Are There So Many Open Jobs?

Yes. The U.S. construction labor market is candidate-constrained in 2026. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction employment stands at 8.364 million, with job openings at 326,000 as of July 2026. The industry needs an estimated 349,000 net new workers to meet demand. According to AGC data, 87% of construction firms report open craft positions and 82% report open salaried roles. The hardest trades to fill are electricians, mechanics, HVAC technicians, concrete workers, and plumbers. Project delays are real: 42% of firms say labor shortages have already pushed timelines. Retention is also tight. In July 2026, 157,000 construction workers quit, nearly 60% higher than July 2025. This tightness spans heavy civil, site development, data centers, rail, tunnels, and wastewater sectors. If you're hiring or looking to move, now is a candidate-favorable market. Amundson Group has placed 1,200+ construction professionals and serves 250+ companies nationwide. We can help fill roles fast: our average time from job intake to first qualified resume is 7 hours.

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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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