1. NAHB, October 27: which trades grow from 2025 to 2035
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects construction employment to grow about 5.0% from 2025 to 2035, from roughly 8.27 million to 8.68 million jobs, faster than the 3.5% it expects for the whole economy. NAHB published the breakdown by trade on October 27.
Specialty trade contractors are projected to add 270,600 jobs (5.2%). The biggest gains: electricians +65,700, HVAC mechanics and installers +40,900, construction laborers +34,800, and plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters +27,900. Solar installers grow fastest, 35.5%. In residential building, laborers (+13,900), carpenters (+8,100) and construction managers (+5,100) gain most, while office clerks, secretaries and bookkeeping clerks are each projected to shrink 6.4%. NAHB notes that the specialty trade numbers include commercial work, not only homes.
Why a small contractor should care: a remodeler who subs out electrical, HVAC and plumbing is competing for exactly the trades with the most new demand. Licensed subs who are busy now will be busier, and they pick the contractors who pay on time and send clear scopes.
2. AGC, October 28: 180 of 360 metros added construction jobs in a year
From September 2025 to September 2026, construction employment rose in 180 of 360 metro areas, fell in 118 and was flat in 62, by AGC's count of government data. The biggest gains were Houston (+13,800), Baton Rouge (+12,300, 27%), St. Louis and Columbus (+10,700 each). The biggest losses were Atlanta (-5,100), Jersey City-White Plains (-4,500), Oakland (-4,400), Riverside-San Bernardino (-3,900) and Lakewood-New Brunswick, N.J. (-3,600). AGC ties the gains mostly to data center, power and factory projects.
Why it matters: near a big plant or data center job, your workers will get offers with overtime. In the metros that shed jobs, more crews are looking for work, including homeowner jobs in your area.
What to do this week
- 01Write down your electrician, HVAC and plumbing subs and how fast each one answered on the last job. If any trade has only one name, find a second one now, before the spring rush.
- 02Pay your best subs on time and send each one a written scope. That is what keeps you at the top of their call list.
- 03If you are in a metro that shed jobs, this is a good winter to hire a laborer or a carpenter you can train.
Where WorkTime CRM helps with this
Your subs are saved by trade in Subs → My partners, and from a project you send a sub a written assignment with the scope. To hire your own people, post an opening from Hiring: it goes on the public board, and new candidates with that role in your state are sent to you.
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