U.S. construction spending and employment show nonresidential growth

U.S. construction spending reached an estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,203.1 billion in August 2026, representing a 0.9 percent increase over the revised July estimate. While this shows monthly growth, the figure is 1.7 percent lower than the August 2025 estimate.

Private construction spending rose 1.1 percent from July, driven by both residential and nonresidential sectors. Public construction spending also saw a slight increase of 0.2 percent.

In September, the construction industry added a net 11,000 jobs, marking seven consecutive months of growth. Employment in the nonresidential sector increased by 16,100 positions, largely fueled by the demand for data centers. Conversely, the residential segment has seen a decline, shedding 1.0 percent of its employment base over the past year.