Contractors in the U.S. headed into 2026 with a more cautious outlook than in recent years. While most firms remain busy and see opportunities ahead, expectations about market growth have softened across nearly all project types.
The annual Construction Hiring and Business Outlook survey from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) provides a clear snapshot of this shifting environment, capturing contractor views on demand across market segments, workforce conditions, backlogs, bidding prospects and other operating realities that shape performance. The 2026 survey drew a total of 951 responses from firms of all types and sizes, though not every respondent answered every question.
The results show far more mixed expectations tha...
