A new analysis of federal labor data by the Associated General Contractors of America shows that Louisiana had the nation’s highest construction employment growth rate over the past year, with employment rising 7.7% between June 2025 and June 2026.
Louisiana’s construction workforce reached 147,000 in June 2026, up from 136,500 a year earlier—an increase of 10,500 jobs.
Nationally, construction employment rose in 33 states and Washington, D.C., while 14 states lost jobs. Employment went unchanged in three states.
Washington, D.C., posted the second-highest growth rate at 6.6%, followed by Minnesota at 6.3%, North Carolina at 5.6% and Missouri at 5.5%.
New Hampshire, Virginia and Rhode Island saw the largest drops at -2.5%, -2% and -1.8%, respectively.
Texas added the most construction jobs over the 12-month period, gaining 24,800 positions. California, meanwhile, lost the most construction jobs, shedding 15,400 positions.
AGC says the states with the strongest hiring figures can attribute their gains largely to continued investment in infrastructure, energy, manufacturing and data centers. But officials warn that uncertainty surrounding federal transportation funding, power availability and tariffs could weaken future demand.
“Construction firms continue to add workers where demand remains strongest,” AGC CEO Jeffrey Shoaf said in a statement. “Policymakers can help sustain that momentum by providing certainty for infrastructure investment, supporting the expansion of our nation’s energy capacity and avoiding policies that increase the cost of key construction materials and create unnecessary uncertainty for construction employers.”
