Commercial construction contractors are ending 2025 with stable backlogs and measured optimism. With the federal shutdown halting official economic data, private indicators point to steady activity but uneven growth across sectors heading into 2026.
The NRCA is urging roofing contractors to advocate for H.R. 5494, a bipartisan bill creating a new visa program to ease chronic labor shortages in construction.
The federal government's shutdown will primarily impact federal contractors and subcontractors, but other contractors will also experience disruptions and a reduction in OSHA enforcement if the shutdown continues.
Construction job openings plunged in August to their lowest level in nearly a decade, falling by 115,000 from July and signaling cooling industry momentum.
Contractors report a shift in market momentum, with survey data showing signs of pressure in some sectors even as confidence holds above growth thresholds.
Construction backlog rose to 8.8 months in July, up 0.4 months year-over-year, despite declining contractor confidence in profit margins, ABC reported.
The latest job numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show slowed hiring in June, with companies laying off workers at a historically slow pace and remaining sluggish about hiring.
The construction industry added 15,000 jobs in June, bringing the year-over-year total to 121,000. However, rising costs, project delays and high interest rates are squeezing contractor margins.