Construction employment on LI reverts to year-over-year loss
Long Island construction employment has fallen once again. Data released by the Associated General Contractors of America shows the region lost 1,300 construction jobs between June 2025 and June 2026. This 2 percent year-over-year decline follows a brief period of growth in May that had briefly reversed a 14-month downward trend.
Nassau and Suffolk counties currently report 81,800 construction positions, down from 83,100 the previous year. This performance stands in contrast to New York City, where the sector saw a 1 percent increase during the same timeframe. The local results mirror national conditions, with construction employment stagnant or dropping in more than half of all monitored metropolitan areas.
Industry experts point to a range of obstacles causing this hiring slowdown. Chief economist Ken Simonson notes that resistance to new data center projects, volatility in the cost of raw materials, and uncertainty regarding federal transportation funding are limiting expansion. Labor availability remains another pressure point for firms across the region.
To address these market conditions, the Associated General Contractors of America is calling on Congress to pass a new highway and transit bill before current laws expire in September. They also advocate for resolutions to trade disputes that affect tariff levels, arguing that policy stability is necessary to create a predictable environment for employers and project developers.
While some metro areas elsewhere in the country have seen job gains, the construction sector on Long Island continues to face hurdles. Regional firms are operating in a climate where projects are stalled by regulatory uncertainty and fluctuating costs, keeping total headcount below levels recorded in previous years.