Ohio and Louisiana Top Rankings between August 2025 and August 2026, While California and New Hampshire Trail; Ohio and Mississippi Top Monthly Gainers, While Colorado and Rhode Island Experience the Worst Monthly Job Losses
Construction employment increased in 35 states and the District of Columbia from August 2025 to August 2026, while 31 states added jobs between July and August, according to an analysis of new federal data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned, however, that several policy developments threaten to reverse those gains, including an explosion of moratoriums on data centers, delayed passage of long-term federal funding for highways and transit, and frequent changes in tariffs.
“A solid majority of states added construction jobs in August on both a monthly and year-over-year basis,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But several threats to continued employment gains loom, including fast-spreading opposition to data centers, a delay in renewing federal highway funding, and constant turmoil in tariff policy.”
Between August 2025 and August 2026, 35 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs, while 15 states shed jobs. Ohio added the most construction jobs (17,800 jobs or 6.8%), followed by North Carolina (17,500 jobs, 6.3%), Texas (17,400 jobs, 1.9%), Louisiana (17,200 jobs, 12.7%) and Illinois (13,400 jobs, 5.6%). Louisiana posted the largest percentage gain over 12 months, followed by Wyoming (7.1%, 1,600 jobs), Wisconsin (7.1%, 10,500 jobs), Ohio and Nebraska (6.7%, 4,300 jobs).
California lost the most construction jobs from August 2025 to August 2026 (-6,900 jobs or -0.8%), followed by New York (-5,200 jobs, -1.3%), Virginia (-4,300 jobs, -1.9%), Georgia (-4,000 jobs, -1.7%) and Michigan (-4,000 jobs, -2.0%). The largest percentage loss was in New Hampshire (-3.7%, -1,200 jobs), followed by Rhode Island (-3.1%, -700 jobs), New Jersey (-2.3%, -3,800 jobs), Michigan and West Virginia (-2.0%, -700 jobs).
For the month, industry employment increased in 31 states, declined in 16 states and D.C. and was unchanged in North Dakota, Delaware and Vermont. Ohio added the most construction jobs (4,600 jobs, 1.7%), followed by Wisconsin (2,800 jobs, 1.8%), Virginia (2,400 jobs, 1.1%), Missouri (2,200 jobs, 1.4%) and North Carolina (2,100 jobs, 0.7%). The largest percentage gain occurred in Mississippi (2.6%, 1,400 jobs), followed by New Mexico (2.1%, 2,100 jobs), Wisconsin, Ohio and Montana (1.6%, 600 jobs).
Colorado lost the largest number of construction jobs between July and August (-2,200 jobs or -1.2%), followed by Maryland (-2,000 jobs, -1.2%), Massachusetts (-1,400 jobs, -0.8%), Alabama (-700 jobs, -0.6%) and California (-600 jobs, -0.1%). Rhode Island experienced the largest percentage loss (-1.3%, -300 jobs), followed by Maryland, Colorado, West Virginia (-1.1%, -400 jobs) and Massachusetts.
Association officials warned that a variety of policy developments could undermine some of the industry's strongest sources of demand. Rapidly spreading state and local opposition to data center development, the lack of progress in Congress on a long-term highway and transit bill, and abrupt changes in tariffs on construction materials all pose significant threats to future construction activity.
“At the moment, construction firms are still adding workers in most states,” said Jeffrey D. Shoaf, the association's chief executive officer. “Policymakers can help by resisting moratoriums on data centers, enacting long-term federal funding for highways and transit and reversing policies that drive up the cost of key construction materials and create unnecessary uncertainty for construction employers.”
View August 2026 state employment data and 1-month, 12-month rankings.