There were 259,000 job openings in construction, seasonally adjusted, at the end of April, an increase of 52,000 or 25% y/y, BLS reported on Tuesday. The job openings rate (openings as a share of employment plus openings) rose from 2.4% to 3.0%. Hires for the full month totaled 323,000, a decline of 26,000 (-7.4%) y/y, while the hires rate (hires as a share of employment) fell from 4.2% to 3.9%. Layoffs and discharges fell by 47,000 (-27%) y/y, from 175,000 to 128,000, while quits fell by 11,000 (-7.1%) y/y, from 156,000 to 145,000, and the rate edged down from 1.9% to 1.7%.

Construction employment, not seasonally adjusted, rose y/y from April 2025 to April 2026 in 192 (53%) of the 360 metro areas (including divisions of larger metros) for which BLS posts construction employment data, fell in 117 (33%), and was unchanged in 51, according to an analysis AGC released on Wednesday. (For most metros, BLS posts only combined totals for mining, logging, and construction; AGC treats these totals as construction-only.) Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Texas added the most construction jobs (8,900 jobs or 4%), followed by St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. (7,300, 9%); and Baton Rouge, La. (6,500, 13%). The largest percentage gain—17%—occurred in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, Iowa-Ill. (1,700 jobs), followed by 13% increases in Baton Rouge; Kankakee, Ill. (200); and Eau Claire, Wis. (500). The largest decrease was in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale division (-5,000 jobs, -3%), followed by Sacramento–Roseville—Folsom, Calif. (-4,700, -6%) and Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. (-4,500, -4%). The largest percentage loss occurred in Lawton, Okla. (-26%, -500 jobs), followed by Fairbanks-College, Alaska (-500, -18%) and Monroe, Mich. (-200, -9%).

Construction spending (not adjusted for inflation) totaled $2.17 trillion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate in April, up 0.4% from an upwardly revised March total and up 0.9% y/y, the Census Bureau reported on Monday. Private residential construction increased by 0.8% and 1.7% y/y, respectively, with single-family down 2.9% y/y, multifamily up 1.1%, and residential improvements up 8%. (Data for improvements are often revised by large amounts in either direction.) Private nonresidential spending fell 0.2% for the month and 2.1% y/y. Data center construction rose 1.9% for the month and 28% y/y; all other private nonresidential spending fell 0.3% and 3.7%, respectively. The largest private nonresidential segment—manufacturing construction—declined for the 14th month in a row, by 1.2% for the month and 18% y/y. Private power construction rose 0.6% and 6.0%, respectively. Commercial construction slipped 0.7% for the month but rose 1.5% y/y (comprising warehouse, down 1.6% y/y; retail, up 5.9%; and farm, down 1.3%). Private office construction (excluding data centers) was flat in April and down 5.5% y/y. (Census includes data centers in office construction in its press release but breaks them out in an Excel file under Historical Data). Public construction spending rose 0.4% for the month and 3.7% y/y. Spending on the three largest public segments rose y/y: highway and street construction, up 3.9% y/y; public education, up 1.2%; and public transportation construction, up 2.4%.

“Economic activity increased at a slight to moderate pace for 10 of the 12 Federal Reserve Districts, while one District reported a slight decline and one reported no change,” the Fed reported on Wednesday in its latest Beige Book, which covers information gathered from early April to May 27. Construction-related comments from several districts, which are referenced by their headquarters cities, were similar to San Francisco’s: “Although slow otherwise, construction activity remained steady for infrastructure, defense, health care, and data centers.” But Philadelphia reported: “Nonresidential construction activity again recorded slight declines this period.”

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For the first four months of 2026 combined compared to January-April 2025, the value of construction starts, not seasonally adjusted, climbed 11% year-to-date (YTD), ConstructConnect reported on Thursday. Nonresidential building starts jumped 36% YTD, with commercial up 72% (led by a 214% leap in combined office and data center starts), institutional up 13%, and industrial (manufacturing) down 9%. Engineering (civil) starts rose 13% YTD, with roads up 0.4%, water and sewage treatment up 20%, bridges up 13%, electric power infrastructure up 14.5%, and airports down 39%. Residential starts slumped 24% YTD, with single-family down 25% and apartments down 23%. “In particular the Data Center ‘ecosystem’ of subcategories consisting of Offices (data centers), Miscellaneous Civil (power generation), Power Infrastructure (power transmission), and Water and Sewage has risen by a collective 107% or $52.2 billion” YTD, Chief Economist Michael Guckes stated. “In short, over 85% of this year’s nonresidential growth through April can be attributed to just these four subcategories that either direct or indirectly benefit from data center demand.”

“Higher prices for building materials are boosting construction costs,” the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. “The data-center boom and disruptions at the world’s second-largest copper mine have pushed the metal’s prices to records. Lumber prices are up because of import taxes and sawmill closures. The Iran war has shocked fuel and chemical markets and boosted prices for resins and plastics as well as the costs of delivering materials such as wallboard and cement to work sites….Random Lengths’ Framing Lumber Composite Price, the trade publication’s gauge of on-the-spot prices, is up more than 30% from the December lows….Lumber buyers anticipate some relief later this year when the duties on Canadian imports are expected to drop to an average of roughly 25%, from about 35%….War has played a part in pushing copper prices to records, because the fighting choked off supplies of sulfuric acid needed to produce a big chunk of the world’s copper. Meanwhile, disruptions at Freeport-McMoRan’s huge Grasberg mine in Indonesia have traders betting that there will be a lot less copper to go around [. Aluminum prices] are near records on the London Metal Exchange and even more expensive in the U.S. because of Trump’s 50% tariff.”

“Commercial real estate property type trends are quite different, with low supply allowing retail and hotel to do well, while oversupply continues to hurt industrial and apartment, and office is hurting from slow demand growth,” the Mueller – Chacon Real Estate Market Cycle Monitor for the first quarter of 2026 (1Q26) reported on Sunday. “The cycle monitor analyzes occupancy movements in five property types in 56 [metropolitan statistical areas]. Market cycle analysis should enhance investment-decision capabilities for investors and operators. The five property type cycle charts summarize almost 300 individual models that analyze occupancy levels and rental growth rates to provide the foundation for long-term investment success.”

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Notice is hereby given that a hearing before the Department of Environmental Management of the State of Alabama will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. for the Division 1 and Division 6 Hearing in the Main Hearing Room at the ADEM – Central Office location at 1400 Coliseum Boulevard in Montgomery, to consider proposed revisions to Division 335-1 (General Administration) and Division 335 6 (Water Quality Program Volume II) of the ADEM Administrative Code.

Revisions to Division 1 of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) Administrative Code are being proposed to amend and add new fee schedules that are required for the implementation of the Department’s rules and regulations. Amendments to Rule 335-1-6-.01 are proposed to outline provisions for cost adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. In addition, a new chapter, 335-1-8, Other Fees, is proposed for disposal fees, underground storage tank fees, and provisions for worthless instruments. Revisions to Division 335-6-15 are being proposed to remove the tank fee amount from Division 6 and add references to Division 1 pertaining to the yearly underground storage tank regulation fee.

Copies of the proposed rules are available at a cost of 30 cents per page at each of the locations listed below. The summary of reasons supporting the revisions is available free of charge. Copies of the proposed rules (Division 1 [markup], Division 1 [clean], Division 6 [markup], and Division 6 [clean]) and summary of reasons can also be found on the internet at https://adem.alabama.gov/events-meetings at no cost. For additional questions or comments, please contact one of the following offices:

ADEM, Office of General Counsel
Attn: Elizabeth Sorrells
1400 Coliseum Boulevard
Montgomery, AL 36110-2400
(334) 260-4510

ADEM, Birmingham Field Office
Attn: Julia Trevarthan
110 Vulcan Road
Birmingham, AL 35209-4702
(205) 942-6168

ADEM, Decatur Field Office
Attn: Jan Childers
2715 Sandlin Road, SW
Decatur, AL 35603-1333
(256) 353-1713

ADEM, Coastal Office
Attn: Jenika Monroe
1615 South Broad Street
Mobile, AL 36605
(251) 450-3400

The public hearing is being held to receive data, views, and arguments from interested persons regarding the proposed rules. Attendance at the hearing is not necessary to present such data, views, arguments, or comments. The same may be submitted in writing but must be received by the Hearing Officer prior to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.

Written submissions and other inquiries should be directed to:

ADEM Hearing Officer
Office of General Counsel
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
P.O. Box 301463
Montgomery, AL 36130-1463

(street address: 1400 Coliseum Boulevard, Montgomery, AL 36110-2400) or by e-mail at hearing.officer@adem.alabama.gov

Any person wishing to participate in this hearing who needs special accommodation should contact the Department’s Permits & Services Division at (334) 271-7714 at least five working days prior to the hearing.

This notice is hereby given this 20th day of May 2026, by authorization of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

____________________________
Edward F. Poolos
Director

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Total construction starts rose 5.4% year-to-date (YTD) in January-April 2026 compared to the same months in 2025, after increasing 9.0% at a seasonally adjusted annual rate from March to April, Dodge Construction Network reported on Wednesday. “‘April’s construction starts were robust with only three categories posting month-over-month losses,’ stated Chief Economist Eric Gaus. ‘Large data centers and energy generation supported the growth, but 9 of the 15 categories saw double- or triple-digit growth.’” Nonresidential starts rose 9.1% YTD, with commercial and industrial construction up 30% and institutional starts down 12%. Residential starts were down 4.5% YTD, with single-family starts down 11% and multifamily starts up 7.9%. Nonbuilding starts climbed 12.3%, with 79% growth in “electric power/utilities. The remaining public works sectors, however, are seeing deeper year-to-date declines.”

Housing starts (units) in April declined by 2.8% from March but increased 4.6% y/y at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, the Census Bureau reported on Thursday. Single-family starts slumped 9.0% for the month and 2.4% y/y. Multifamily (five or more units) starts jumped 14% for the month and 23% y/y. Residential permits rose 5.8% from March but dipped 0.2% y/y. Single-family permits were down 2.6% for the month and 5.5% y/y. Multifamily permits soared 22% for the month and 5.3% y/y. Multifamily units under construction edged up by 0.4%, from March but declined 9.8% y/y.

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) slipped to 48.3 in April, seasonally adjusted, from 49.8 in March, the American Institute of Architects reported on Wednesday. The index is “a leading economic indicator that leads nonresidential construction activity by approximately 9-12 months.” The ABI is derived from the share of responding architecture firms that report a gain in billings from the previous month less the share reporting a decline, on a 0-to-100 scale. Scores below 50 indicate decreasing business conditions. Subindexes (based on three-month moving averages) varied for practice specializations: multifamily, 51.5 (up from 50.8 in March); institutional, 51.1 (down from 51.9); commercial/industrial, 48.9 (down from 49.2); and mixed practices, 42.5 (down from 42.6).

“Amid a widespread national slowdown in population growth, midsized cities remained close to the previous year’s patterns between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025,” Census reported on May 14. “Drop-offs in average growth were steeper among the largest cities…Even where the largest cities maintained strong growth, they were often outpaced by smaller cities in the outer portions of the same metro area.” These patterns drive numerous types of construction within metros. “The top five fastest-growing cities in the nation with populations of 20,000 or more were all in Texas, with four of them clustered in the suburbs of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area and the fifth located outside Houston.” Celina, Texas (near Dallas), was the nation’s fastest-growing city (increasing by 24.6%), as it was in 2023.

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May 20, 2026Updated: May 20, 2026

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House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) have released a bipartisan, five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill known as the BUILD America 250 Act. This marks one of the most significant milestones yet in the effort to replace the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) before it expires on September 30, 2026. AGC submitted a letter supporting the legislation and highlighting several provisions important to the construction industry.

Among the bill’s key provisions, AGC highlighted the increased investment in roads, bridges, and transit systems, a continued emphasis on formula funding, and project delivery reforms intended to reduce delays. AGC also welcomed the inclusion of electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid fees, representing the first new Highway Trust Fund revenue stream in more than 30 years and an important step toward strengthening the long-standing user-pay principle. You can learn more by reading AGC’s summary of what’s in the bill, or check out the committee’s section-by-section summary or full bill text.

As previously reported, AGC launched America’s Moving Forward, a nationwide effort to build support for continued federal investment in highways and transit systems that drive economic growth in communities across the country. The BUILD America 250 Act reflects many of the priorities AGC has advanced throughout the reauthorization process and represents an important step toward providing the long-term certainty needed to modernize infrastructure, improve mobility, and sustain economic growth nationwide. The highway bill still has a steep climb to passage, and we need to help build support among rank-and-file members of the House of Representatives. Please take a few minutes to help us advance this bill by visiting America’s Moving Forward and clicking “Take Action” – and encourage others at your company to do the same!

For more information, contact Jonathon Porter.

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Input prices for new nonresidential construction rose 1.7% in April and 6.6% y/y, the largest y/y increase since December 2022, according to producer price index (PPI) data BLS posted on Wednesday. AGC posted tables and charts of construction-related PPIs. The diesel fuel PPI soared 14% in April and 74% y/y, while the index for liquid asphalt leaped 41% in April and 18% y/y and the index for truck transportation of freight climbed 8.1% and 15%, respectively. PPIs for three key metals used in construction continued to post outsized increases, driven by tariffs as well as the Middle East conflict. The index for aluminum mill shapes rose 4.2% for the month and 37% y/y. The PPI for copper and brass mill shapes climbed 0.9% and 21%, respectively. The index for steel mill products increased 3.8% and 13%, respectively. Readers are invited to report about project timing, materials price changes, and supply chains to ken.simonson@agc.org and to view AGC’s Tariff Resource Center for up-to-date, detailed information about relevant tariffs.

There were 224,000 job openings in construction, seasonally adjusted, at the end of March, a decline of 54,000 or -20% y/y, BLS reported on Tuesday. The job openings rate (openings as a share of employment plus openings) fell from 3.3% to 2.6%. Both the number and the rate were the lowest for March rate since 2017. Hires for the full month totaled 308,000, a gain of 8,000 (2.7%) y/y, while the hires rate (hires as a share of employment) inched up from 3.6% to 3.7%. Layoffs and discharges fell by 17,000 (-10%) y/y, from 162,000 to 145,000, while quits slumped by 23,000 (-14%) y/y, from 162,000 to 139,000. The layoff and quits rates each declined from 2.0% to 1.7%.

Seasonally adjusted construction employment rose from February to March in 31 states and the District of Columbia, fell in 14 states and was flat in five states, according to AGC’s analysis of BLS data posted on May 6. Ohio added the most construction jobs for the month (5,300 jobs or 2.0%), followed by Louisiana (2,900, 2.0%), Florida (2,600, 0.4%), and Virginia (2,100, 0.9%). Delaware experienced the largest percentage gain for the month (4.2%, 1,000 jobs), followed by Louisiana, Ohio, and Nebraska (1.5%, 1,000 jobs). Between March 2025 and March 2026, 33 states and D.C. added construction jobs, 16 states lost jobs, and employment was unchanged in Wyoming. Texas added the most construction jobs y/y (21,600 jobs or 2.4%), followed by North Carolina (11,300, 4.1%), Ohio (11,200, 4.4%), Missouri (7,700, 5.2%), and Louisiana (6,900, 4.9%). Missouri had the largest y/y percentage gain, followed by 4,9% increases in Louisiana, Nebraska (3,100 jobs), and West Virginia (1,700 jobs). California lost the most construction jobs y/y (-9,400 jobs, -1.0%), followed by Florida (-8,700, -1.3%), New York (-7,100, -1.8%), and New Jersey (-3,600, -2.2%). Alaska experienced the largest percentage decline (-6.5%, -1,300 jobs), followed by New Mexico (-4.9%, -2,700 jobs), New Jersey, New York, and Mississippi (-1.7%, -900 jobs).

The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI)—“a monthly measure based on the three-month moving value of nonresidential building projects going into planning, shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year to 18 months”—rose 6.2% in April from a downwardly revised March reading, Dodge Construction Network reported on May 7. Commercial planning climbed 8.1%, while institutional planning rose 1.5%. “Planning activity for traditional office buildings, data centers, warehouses, hotels, and parking garages grew in April, while retail store planning slowed pace. On the institutional side, education and healthcare planning re-accelerated, while recreational, public, and religious planning slowed[. The] DMI was up 14.1% [y/y]. The commercial segment was up 37.2% (+5.8% when data centers are removed) and the institutional segment was up 28.8%.”

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Housing starts (units) in March increased by 10.8% both from February and y/y at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, following steep declines in February, the Census Bureau reported on Wednesday. Single-family starts climbed 9.7% for the month and 8.9% y/y. Multifamily (five or more units) starts rose 9.6% for the month and 13.5% y/y. Residential permits slumped 10.8% in March and 7.4% y/y. Single-family permits were down 3.8% for the month and 7.9% y/y. Multifamily permits fell 23.5% in March and 5.3% y/y. Multifamily units under construction fell by 1.5%, and 12.0% y/y. The number of multifamily units under construction at the end of March was down 34% from the peak in July 2023.

Construction industry compensation (wages, salaries, and benefits including required employer contributions) rose 0.6%, seasonally adjusted, in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 and 3.2% over four quarters (vs. 3.9% from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025), BLS reported on Wednesday. Wages and salaries increased by 0.2% in Q1 and 3.1% over four quarters (vs. 4.3% from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025). The latest increases were less than those in the overall private sector, where compensation rose 0.9% in Q1 and 3.4% over four quarters and wages rose 0.7% in Q1 and 3.4% over four quarters.

At the end of Q1, “there are 6,020 [hotel] projects with 705,825 rooms in the pipeline, reflecting sustained development activity across the country,” consultancy Lodging Econometrics (LE) reported on Monday. “Of those, 1,071 projects comprising 132,016 rooms are under construction. Another 2,164 projects with 249,465 rooms are scheduled to start construction within the next 12 months, while projects in the early planning stage stand at 2,785 projects and 324,344 rooms. Meanwhile, Q1 construction starts totaled 140 projects with 15,546 rooms, and new project announcements totaled 166 projects and 20,864 rooms.” The number of projects under construction fell by 17 (-1.6%) from Q4 2025. Dallas had the most projects under construction (37), followed by Phoenix (36), and New York (26), LE reported on Tuesday.

Inflation-adjusted gross domestic product (real GDP) rose 2.0% in Q1 at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported on Thursday. Real private nonresidential structures investment fell 6.7% (commercial and health care, -1.5%; manufacturing structures, -22.7%; power and communication, 1.0%; other structures, -5.3%; and mining exploration, shafts, and wells, 1.6%), after falling 6.5% in Q4 2025. Real residential fixed private investment in permanent site structures fell 5.9% (single-family, -8.0%; multifamily 1.9%), after dipping 1.8% in Q4. The price index for real private fixed structures investment rose at a 3.2% seasonally adjusted annual rate in Q1 (5.3% in Q4).

Highway contractor readers are encouraged to fill out the 2026 AGC/HCSS Highway Work Zone Awareness Survey by May 8. The survey collects information on the frequency, severity, and impacts of work zone crashes, along with potential solutions. AGC will use the results to support a national media and public education campaign launching ahead of Memorial Day to encourage safer driving during the busy summer travel season. The data will also help strengthen advocacy efforts for tougher work zone safety laws and enforcement. Results will be released the week of May 18.

Note: There will be no Data DIGest the week of May 4-8. The next issue will be the week of May 11-15.

Click here for latest Data Digest.

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Alabama is building a $19 million shortcut to transform commutes between major interstates

• Updated: Apr. 23, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
• |Published: Apr. 23, 2026, 12:49 p.m.

By Alaina Bookman | abookman@al.com

The Alabama Department of Transportation is working to tie-in Morgan Road with Lakeshore Parkway in a $19 million partnership with the city of Bessemer and Jefferson County.

The project will provide drivers with a straight shot between I-459’s Exit 6 and Lakeshore Parkway interchange with I-65 in Homewood. Construction is expected to last through the end of 2027.

“Not only is it going to improve traffic flow in the area, you won’t have to zigzag to get from Morgan Road to Lakeshore Parkway, but you’re also eliminating some of the chances for crashes,” Jon Paepcke, the Alabama Department of Transportation east-central region spokesperson, told AL.com.

The Alabama Department of Transportation said the project should improve traffic flow in the area which has a growing number of industrial centers including Lowe’s, Carvana, Dollar General and FedEx Ground.

Currently, the state road known as Highway 150 averages nearly 20,000 vehicles a day, according to the Alabama Department of Transportation.

The project will widen Morgan Road south to Cumberland Road and SR-150 between Morgan and Shannon Roads.

The Alabama Department of Transportation will also replace the 93-year-old bridge over Little Shades Creek, east of Lakeshore Parkway, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

The alignment will connect Morgan Road travelers to the upcoming Diverging Diamond Interchange on Lakeshore Parkway at I-65 in Homewood, which is also expected to open to traffic by the end of 2027.

“There’s a lot of moving parts in this project. It’s just not one widening project or one intersection alignment,” Paepcke said.

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