Like many industries, construction is experiencing a major labor shortage. Associated Builders and Contractors projects the industry will need to bring in 439,000 net new workers in 2025 just to keep pace with demand. That’s not a typo—nearly half a million new workers in a single year.

This might seem like a golden opportunity for newcomers to the field, but it raises some major concerns for construction executives.

Missing this hiring target threatens the entire industry: projects will face significant delays, costs will surge as companies compete for limited workers and some projects may be abandoned altogether. Consider the fact that 20% of construction workers are nearing retirement age, and these challenges become even more daunting.

Reprinted courtesy of Matt Poepsel, Construction Executive, a publication of Associated Builders and Contractors. All rights reserved.