Construction labor shortages and rising costs are prompting contractors to rethink workforce planning, according to Bridgit’s 2026 State of Workforce Planning report.
The survey of 250 construction leaders found that all respondents said labor shortages are affecting their businesses, up from 93% in 2025. Additionally, 68% reported higher costs because of labor constraints, compared with 43% last year.
Workforce availability is also playing a greater role in project selection, with 98% of respondents saying it carries more weight in bidding decisions. When building project teams, 84% identified previous experience working together as important, up from 44% in 2025.
Technology adoption is accelerating alongside these challenges. The report found that 80% of construction leaders have incorporated AI into workforce planning, with 30% actively using it and 50% in the early stages of implementation. More than one-third are also open to adopting agentic AI that can take action independently.
Data integration has become another priority. Nearly all respondents (99%) said connecting workforce planning software with human resources information systems is important, compared with fewer than one-third last year.
Despite growing interest in AI, contractors remain concerned about trusting AI recommendations and finding tools designed for construction-specific workflows, the report found.
