Construction hiring activity slowed to its lowest level on record in February, while contractors continued to retain existing workers—creating a constrained labor environment that could impact roofing crew availability, scheduling flexibility and project throughput.

According to an analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey data, the industry reported 202,000 open positions at the end of February. That figure declined by 28,000 from January and is down 53,000 year over year. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled role for which an employer is actively recruiting.

For roofing contractors, slower hiring combined with limited worker movement suggests tighter access to experienced installers, particularly for steep-slope systems, low-slope membrane applications and repair crews. This environment can restrict the ability to scale labor quickly during peak seasons or after major weather events, increasing pressure on existing crews and potentially extending project durations.

“Construction hiring fell to the slowest rate on record in February,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “At the same time, contractors remained reluctant to lay off workers, while employees were even more reluctant to leave. The combination of historically slow hiring and exceedingly few separations made February 2026 the month with the least construction labor force churn since the BLS began this survey in December 2000.

“Of course, this data pertains to February, when the Strait of Hormuz was open and the price of oil was under $100 per barrel,” said Basu. “While contractors continue to express optimism regarding their staffing intentions, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index, recent data and developments suggest that hiring is unlikely to rebound in the near future.”

From an operational standpoint, low labor churn may help roofing contractors retain trained crews, but it limits opportunities to bring in new workers ahead of seasonal demand spikes. Firms may need to emphasize retention, safety training and productivity improvements, especially for labor-intensive tear-offs, material handling and installation workflows, to maintain jobsite performance as hiring remains subdued.