Today’s job market is complex, but one thing is clear: construction is a standout career choice. The industry offers multiple careers of choice for job seekers who want high-demand, well-compensated and rewarding employment with opportunities to climb the career ladder.
The latest data from Associated Builders and Contractors show that a chronic workforce shortage persists in construction, meaning opportunities for job seekers are abundant, especially in the commercial and industrial segments. The industry needs to attract 349,000 new workers in 2026 to meet demand for construction services.
The industry needs to bring in fewer workers than in recent years due to modest construction spending growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027 and other macroeconomic dynamics like an aging workforce.
This dip in our industry’s worker shortage offers lawmakers and industry leaders three practical lessons that can create a brighter future for the people who want to build America.
First, deploying ABC’s all-of-the-above workforce development strategy to bring new workers into the industry and educate them through both industry-driven and government-registered apprenticeship programs is essential.
ABC Carolinas is helping contractors across North and South Carolina address the construction workforce shortage by building a strong pipeline of skilled craft professionals through industry-driven, earn-while-you-learn training pathways. Our Workforce Development programs connect individuals directly with employers who are actively hiring, providing hands-on education that leads to long-term careers in commercial and industrial construction.
Addressing the Educational Needs of the Industry
The mission of the ABC Apprenticeship & Education Program is to provide the construction industry with the most qualified and technically trained people at all levels through various educational opportunities to strengthen the construction workforce in the Carolinas.
At the core of this effort is the ABC Carolinas Apprenticeship & Craft Education Program, a four-year model that combines structured classroom instruction with full-time, paid on-the-job training through an ABC member company. Apprentices attend classes two nights per week, two hours per night, during the school year, allowing them to build both technical knowledge and real jobsite experience at the same time.
This approach is especially important as local hiring demand remains strong across the Carolinas, where contractors continue to compete for qualified electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers, equipment operators, and jobsite leadership roles. ABC Carolinas is meeting that demand by providing accessible, debt-free training that helps apprentices earn wages from day one while developing the skills employers need to keep projects moving and communities growing.
Through these programs, ABC Carolinas is actively educating apprentices each year through a proven “earn while you learn” structure that supports both workforce entry and long-term career advancement, giving our members a practical solution to hiring challenges while creating life-changing opportunities for the next generation of craft professionals.
Two, upskilling workers on rapidly evolving technologies is vital.
Three, federal lawmakers should introduce a new market-based worker visa system for construction, which would strengthen border security, close loopholes to curb abuse of the asylum system and include a robust vetting process.
It’s a pivotal moment for an industry in need of skilled job seekers To shrink the shortage and introduce new talent to construction’s rewarding career paths, now is the time for action—not complacency. In this complex job market, construction is hiring.
