Construction Labor Supply-Demand Survey: May 2026
Overview
The shortage rate across eight occupations nationwide was 1.2% in May 2026, with the shortage widening by 0.6 percentage points from the previous month and 0.7 percentage points from the same month a year earlier. The outlook for securing workers in July and August was “normal.” The survey date was one day selected from May 10 through May 20, 2026, excluding Sundays and holidays.
Key points
- The shortage across eight occupations nationwide widened in May 2026 compared with the previous month and the same month a year earlier.
- The shortage rate in May was 1.2%.
- The outlook for securing workers in July and August was rated “normal.”
Overview
“Construction Labor Supply-Demand Survey Results (May 2026 Survey)” presents findings on construction labor supply and demand nationwide. The survey uses one day selected from May 10 through May 20, 2026, excluding Sundays and holidays, as the survey date. The results include the shortage rate across eight occupations nationwide and the outlook for securing workers in the future.
The published results show that labor supply and demand across eight occupations nationwide was in shortage in May, and provide the outlook for securing workers in July and August.
Details
The shortage rate across eight occupations nationwide was 1.2% in May 2026. For comparison, the rate was a shortage of 0.6% in April 2026 and a shortage of 0.5% in May 2025, so the shortage widened by 0.6 percentage points month over month and by 0.7 percentage points year over year.
The outlook for securing workers across eight occupations nationwide was rated “normal” for July and August. The source presents the two months together.