Construction declined in more than half of U.S. metro areas this August

The labor shortage drags on, so this week we deliver two possible solutions: accelerated training and better human resources management. (We also digest a new analysis of metro area jobs data.) But it’s not all employment! You’ll also find information on a new Department of Energy program to help you integrate green building into your work.

But first, elected officials have a lot of influence over our industry—and your vote matters! Find your polling place here.

» That’s pretty cool! See what they’re up to at the NC State University College of Design Materials Lab.

» 💡 Here’s an idea. Or, more accurately, a bunch of them. Drawdown Explorer has actionable tactics for reducing construction’s environmental impacts.

» Who knew scaffolding could be so controversial? The new design for NYC construction projects sparks heated online debate.

» 🦝 Knock. Knock. Peep this unusual deck customization.

When a work truck breaks down, the fastest fix isn’t a phone call: it’s hopping in the backup truck you already have ready to go.

That’s the strategy 47% of fleet professionals rely on to cut downtime: keeping an extra truck on hand so the job doesn’t have to stop while waiting on repairs.

Whether you already keep additional trucks or your current fleet keeps letting you down, Ford Super Duty is built to be the one you can depend on, durable enough to sit ready, and reliable enough to be the truck you lean on every day. Ford also earned the best quality score in more than a decade this year.

See how Ford Super Duty can help your crew stay ahead of downtime.

A new National Science Foundation-funded program at Kennesaw State University leverages generative AI and virtual reality (VR) to give construction management students a deeper, more realistic learning experience. Professor Minsoo Baek earned a $250,000 grant to develop instruction using VR headsets so users can simulate construction roles and conditions like delays, cost volatility and weather and safety issues—and see the results of their decisions.

Why it matters: When new crew members arrive at the site better trained, they get up to speed faster, work safer and reduce productivity losses that precipitate other costly issues. (Kennesaw State University)

Slightly more than half (183) of U.S. metros saw declining construction employment from August 2025 to August 2026, according to a new report from the AGC. Metros left out of the data center, advanced manufacturing and power project hiring boom struggle under the uncertainty of tariffs, immigration action, labor shortages and materials costs.

Metros with the most dramatic skids were Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Ga. (-4,900 jobs), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. (-4,600) and Jersey City-White Plains, N.Y.-N.J. (-4,300). Leading the gainers were Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands (+14,100 jobs), Baton Rouge  (+13,300) and St. Louis, Mo.-IL. (+11,200).

Why it matters: The analysis prompted the AGC to advocate for federal action to resuscitate the industry economy. “Protecting current construction demand, investing in new improvements to the nation’s aging infrastructure and providing greater certainty about future costs will help stimulate new demand for construction activity and broader economic growth,” says AGC CEO Jeff Shoaf. “The last thing the economy needs now is under-investment, needless barriers to new projects and uncertainties about future costs.” (AGC/ConstructionMetrics)

Builders using prefabrication and other off-site construction methods are getting an assist from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Building Construction (ABC) Initiative. Focused on new construction and retrofits, the program funds research on technologies, software and digitization; and helps the industry address training, business models and other challenges. “It is also critical for the construction industry to integrate solutions for deep energy efficiency, grid flexibility and lower lifecycle impacts,” the DOE wrote in announcing the effort.

Why it matters: The program accelerates the industry’s ability to adopt energy efficiency tactics and integrate them with crew and office practices to build resilient, smart buildings that meet customer and user needs. (U.S. Department of Energy)

» Housing happening: Seattle’s first social housing project launches

» County collabs: South Florida officials work together on land use

» September sink: Multifamily starts continue to ebb

» Top tools: Best stud finders for lath and plaster

“It's not just about securing the right project and executing on it,” Priya Kapila, partner and head of the compensation and rewards team at FMI, tells Scott Winstead, head of the firm’s consulting division, in the latest episode of the “FMI Built-In” podcast, How Strategic Compensation Drives Performance and Retention. “It's about having the right team in place, recognizing them and compensating them in a way where they're engaged to move forward and be successful for themselves, and obviously promote and advance the business in doing so.”

Thanks for reading today's edition! You can reach the newsletter team at [email protected] We enjoy hearing from you.

Interested in advertising? Email us at [email protected]

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here to get this newsletter.

The Level is curated and written by Margot Lester and edited by Bianca Prieto