The construction industry had 231,000 job openings on the last day of January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting. Industry job openings decreased by 14,000 in January and are down by 1,000 from the same time last year.

Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Market reached $12.3 Trillion in 2023 and is expected to reach $16.0 Trillion by 2031, growing with a CAGR of 3.4% during the forecast period 2024-2031. The AEC market’s steady growth is driven by major infrastructure investments and technology adoption in the U.S., alongside strategic digital transformation efforts like the Nemetschek & Takenaka MoU on AI‑driven AEC solutions, and Japan’s push for smart, energy-efficient urban development and advanced construction technologies supporting long-term sustainable expansion.

The construction industry headed into 2026 with a mix of stubborn challenges and new opportunities. ForConstructionPros.com has received reports from multiple companies pointing to an industry that will confront tight labor conditions, rising material costs and uneven regional demand, even as investment grows in smarter systems, digital tools and long-term resilience.

Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, several sectors are positioned for growth, and data-driven planning is expected to shape how to approach projects in the year ahead.

On Nov. 17, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced a proposed rule on a common-sense definition of “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act.

Generally, the proposed ruling aims to define and clarify the scope of federal jurisdiction over Clean Water Act permitting, which in past years has been unclear. According to an EPA fact sheet, the proposed rule would ensure federal jurisdiction is focused on “relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water.”