Report: 92 Percent of Construction Firms Struggling to Hire Workers

The construction industry continues to face a skilled workforce shortage, with 92 percent of companies reporting difficulty in hiring for open positions, according to the 2025 Workforce Survey published by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).

Among the leading challenges that firms face with candidates for open positions include a lack of skills and qualifications (reported by 57 percent of firms), new hires failing to show up or quickly quitting (48 percent) and a lack of required credentials (41 percent).

Worker shortages were the leading cause of project delays, with 45 percent of contractors reporting this issue.

As the industry continues to grapple with the construction skills gap, investing in the recruitment and training of a new generation of craft professions remains a nationwide priority. This investment not only serves to help meet the growing demand for workers, but also opens up life-changing opportunities for individuals.

“These are high-paying, high-wage jobs that literally will break a poverty cycle,” said NCCER President and CEO Boyd Worsham. “For some families, this changes generational poverty, and it makes a difference.”

To see the full results of AGC and NCCER’s 2025 Workforce Survey, click here.