Weekly Briefing: October 30, 2026
Week of October 26, 2026
All 50 States Post Construction Unemployment Below 10% as Data Centers Absorb Skilled Labor
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reported that the national (not seasonally adjusted) construction unemployment rate was 3.5% in September, down 0.3 percentage points from one year earlier. According to ABC’s state-by-state analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, all 50 states had a construction unemployment rate below 10%, and all but Alaska, Minnesota, and North Dakota had a rate below 6%.
Maryland recorded the lowest rate at 1.7%, its lowest September rate on record, followed by North Carolina at 1.8% and Georgia and Tennessee at 2.1%. North Dakota had the highest rate at 9.5%, followed by Alaska at 7.5% and Minnesota at 6.7%.
Compared with August, 44 states posted higher rates, and the national rate rose 0.4 percentage points. Even so, rates remained below their pre-pandemic February 2020 levels in 39 states, and seasonally adjusted payroll construction employment reached 8.4 million, 9.9% above its pre-pandemic peak of 7.6 million.
For AEC firms, a tight construction labor market may continue to affect contractor availability, bid pricing, and project schedules. ABC’s analysis noted that data center construction is absorbing a significant share of available skilled labor and contributing to elevated building materials prices, alongside rising energy and labor costs, which could add cost pressure in markets with heavy data center activity.
Permitting and Grid Constraints Slow U.S. Energy Infrastructure Delivery
Only 20% of U.S. energy-sector decision-makers say their organizations consistently deliver major infrastructure projects on time and on budget, compared with 30% globally, according to Jacobs’ Energy Readiness Equation report. The survey of 600 senior energy-sector leaders across the U.S., U.K., Germany, Australia, and Singapore found that another 49% of U.S. respondents only meet those targets with significant effort or trade-offs.
Permitting was the leading U.S. delivery barrier, with 80% of respondents ranking it among their three largest systemic constraints, followed by policy or regulatory uncertainty at 63% and grid or network readiness at 51%. About 82% of U.S. respondents said regulators have the greatest ability to accelerate or delay projects.
The findings come amid a widening gap between announced and active data center capacity. Research firm MSI Economics estimated that only about 5 gigawatts of the 12 to 16 gigawatts of data-center-related power capacity projected for 2026 delivery was under construction. Investment research firm Bernstein estimated that its tracked North American development pipeline of 404 gigawatts would take about 13 years to clear at the current construction pace.
For AEC firms, projects that resolve power, permitting, and equipment dependencies early appear most likely to advance, which may increase demand for early-stage permitting, interconnection, and site-readiness services. With capital widely available, a project’s credible path to power and approvals may be a stronger signal of which opportunities move into design and construction.
October 22, 2026
Azuria Water Solutions (Azuria), a Missouri-based water solutions firm, backed by New Mountain Capital, has acquired Infrastructure Alternatives, Inc. (IAI), a Michigan-based engineering and technical services firm specializing in contract operations, maintenance, and management services within the water and wastewater business sector. This acquisition deepens Azuria's service offerings helping clients identify and obtain grants and financing. s.”
October 23, 2026
Pickering, a Tennessee-based architectural and engineering firm, has acquired Hodge Engineering Company, a Tennessee-based engineering firm specializing in mechanical, structural, electrical engineering, and architectural design services. This acquisition strengthens Pickering's presence in Tennessee and enhances their Facilities Design group, expanding their expertise and capacity, while creating room for interdisciplinary collaboration. "As we've gotten to know their team, it's become clear that we share many of the same values, including a commitment to quality work, strong client relationships, and the belief that our people are our greatest asset. We're looking forward to building on the strengths of both firms and the opportunities ahead," said Bob Pitts, CEO of Pickering.
October 23, 2026
Goldman Sachs Alternatives (Goldman Sachs), through its private equity business, has reached an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Celnor Group (Celnor), a United Kingdom-based risk, safety, compliance and testing firm. This majority investment will support Celnor's international expansion strategy in the United States, while strengthening its technology, operational and acquisition capabilities. "We've been very impressed by Simon and the management team's track record of building and scaling the Group via M&A, while maintaining a clear focus on its customers, its service quality and importantly, its people. We look forward to partnering alongside Inflexion and management to drive future growth, both in the UK and internationally," said Jose Barreto, Partner within Private Equity at Goldman Sachs.
October 28, 2026
Burns Engineering (Burns), a Pennsylvania-based engineering solutions firm, backed by OceanSound Partners, has acquired PRVN Consultants (PRVN), an Iowa-based mechanical, electrical, controls, and structural engineering firm serving the energy and power markets. This acquisition expands Burns' presence in the Midwest and its power and utilities services. "PRVN has built a strong reputation for solving complex district energy and power generation challenges with practical, efficient engineering solutions. The joining of Burns and PRVN strengthens our mechanical, electrical, controls and structural capabilities," said Matthew Burns, President and CEO of Burns.
October 28, 2026
True Environmental, a New York-based environmental consulting and engineering firm, backed by Halle Capital, has acquired Sikumiut Environmental Management Limited (SEM), a Canada-based environmental and technical services firm serving the mining, utility, and energy markets. This acquisition expands True Environmental's footprint into Atlantic Canada and adds to its geomatics, GIS, digital solutions, stakeholder engagement, and technical staffing services. "Grant, Stefan Cahill, Stephen Rowe, and the entire SEM team have built something remarkable — a technically strong, client-centered organization with deep roots in Newfoundland and Labrador, long-standing client relationships, and a genuine commitment to their people and their communities," said Jim Stamatis, CEO of True Environmental.
STV’s Wisconsin team volunteered at the 2026 Days of Caring, an annual event hosted by United Way Racine County that brings community members and local businesses together to complete projects for United Way’s impact partners. This year, the team supported Bethany Apartments, a transitional housing community for survivors of domestic abuse and their families, where residents can stay for up to two years as they work toward stability and independence. Volunteers painted interior spaces, assembled shelving and storage units, and made other improvements across the property. “Having the opportunity to support Bethany Apartments was a meaningful way to give back to the community,” said Jillian Palmer, assistant project manager for STV’s program management and construction management (PM/CM) team.
The EFCG Weekly Briefing summarizes the week’s key news in the AEC industry, including M&A updates, and micro- and macro-trends, aggregated from industry-focused and global news sources.
To send any additional press releases or news from your firm that you would like us to share please email Fatima Moumen at fmoumen@efcg.com.
