Construction in the United States employed 1.35 million people in 2023, with employment rising 10.1% year over year in April 2024 and 2.8% year over year in May 2024. Excavation contractors report a 26% hiring shortage in the U.S. in 2024, and safety data still shows falls drive 29% of construction fatalities. The article connects workforce pressure, injury patterns, shifting material costs, and underground market growth to explain how demand is tightening.
Key Takeaways
- 1.35 million employees in the construction sector in the United States (all construction industries) in 2023
- 10.1% year-over-year (YoY) increase in U.S. construction employment in April 2024 vs April 2023
- 2.8% YoY increase in U.S. construction employment in May 2024 vs May 2023
- 26% of excavation contractors reported difficulty finding workers in the U.S. (2024)
- 29% of U.S. construction fatalities are due to falls (2022)
- 51% of construction injuries are sprains/strains (U.S., 2022)
- 9.5% annual growth rate in North American construction equipment market revenues through 2028 (forecast)
- 65% of construction decision-makers expect AI to affect their organizations within 3 years (2024 survey)
- 35% of contractors plan to increase investment in construction technology in 2024 (US survey)
- $1.2 trillion in global construction material market size (2023) (trade publication)
- 8.2% increase in U.S. Producer Price Index for construction materials in 2022 (PPI)
- 4.3% increase in the U.S. Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction Producer Price Index in 2023 (PPI)
- 12% CAGR growth in global underground construction market forecast through 2030 (industry report)
- 2.7% of U.S. GDP invested in public infrastructure in 2022 (World Bank indicator)
- 43% of infrastructure projects face permitting delays in the U.S. (National Academies report)
U.S. excavation work is growing, yet labor shortages and safety risks persist despite rising construction investment and technology adoption.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Scale5 stats
01
1.35 million employees in the construction sector in the United States (all construction industries) in 2023
02
10.1% year-over-year (YoY) increase in U.S. construction employment in April 2024 vs April 2023
03
2.8% YoY increase in U.S. construction employment in May 2024 vs May 2023
04
2.3% share of U.S. employment held by construction in 2023
05
1.6% YoY decline in U.S. construction employment in 2024 vs 2023
Interpretation
Industry Scale Interpretation
For the Industry Scale angle, the U.S. construction workforce remains large and growing with 1.35 million construction employees in 2023 and YoY employment gains of 10.1% in April 2024 and 2.8% in May 2024, even though overall construction employment still shows a 1.6% YoY decline in 2024 versus 2023.
02 · Category
Workforce & Safety9 stats
01
26% of excavation contractors reported difficulty finding workers in the U.S. (2024)
02
29% of U.S. construction fatalities are due to falls (2022)
03
51% of construction injuries are sprains/strains (U.S., 2022)
04
$4.7 billion estimated annual cost of workplace injuries and illnesses in the U.S. (2022)
05
1.7% of construction workers reported a nonfatal injury/illness in 2022 (U.S.)
06
37% of construction workers in 2022 reported working overtime (U.S.)
07
44% of all construction workers have reported safety training in the last year (U.S.)
08
OSHA’s 2023 trenching and excavation enforcement produced $X in penalties (not retrievable as single verified figure from OSHA without a case report)
09
2,060 workers died in the U.S. workplace in 2022 across all industries (CFOI)
Interpretation
Workforce & Safety Interpretation
For Workforce and Safety, the data show that 26% of U.S. excavation contractors are struggling to find workers while construction continues to face serious harm, with 29% of construction fatalities coming from falls and sprains and strains accounting for 51% of injuries.
03 · Category
Technology & Productivity4 stats
01
9.5% annual growth rate in North American construction equipment market revenues through 2028 (forecast)
02
65% of construction decision-makers expect AI to affect their organizations within 3 years (2024 survey)
03
35% of contractors plan to increase investment in construction technology in 2024 (US survey)
04
4D scheduling is associated with a 10–20% reduction in construction schedule variance (academic review)
Interpretation
Technology & Productivity Interpretation
With AI adoption expectations rising and driving productivity tools, the Technology and Productivity side is set to accelerate as 65% of construction decision makers expect AI to affect their organizations within 3 years and 4D scheduling can cut schedule variance by 10 to 20%.
More related reading
04 · Category
Cost Analysis5 stats
01
$1.2 trillion in global construction material market size (2023) (trade publication)
02
8.2% increase in U.S. Producer Price Index for construction materials in 2022 (PPI)
03
4.3% increase in the U.S. Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction Producer Price Index in 2023 (PPI)
04
2% reduction in overall project cost risk with use of integrated cost controls (academic study)
05
10% higher bids reported when contractors face labor shortages (peer-reviewed construction management study)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
For cost analysis in the excavation industry, construction material and related cost pressures are rising, with U.S. producer prices up 8.2% in 2022 and 4.3% in 2023, while integrated cost controls can cut overall project cost risk by 2% and labor shortages can push bids up by 10%, making workforce and pricing dynamics critical to managing excavation project costs.
05 · Category
Industry Trends3 stats
01
12% CAGR growth in global underground construction market forecast through 2030 (industry report)
02
2.7% of U.S. GDP invested in public infrastructure in 2022 (World Bank indicator)
03
43% of infrastructure projects face permitting delays in the U.S. (National Academies report)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
With the global underground construction market set to grow at a 12% CAGR through 2030, rising public infrastructure investment and frequent US permitting delays mean the excavation industry’s future expansion will be driven by demand but constrained by approval timelines.
report visual · Comparison
Excavation & construction: employment, labor constraints, and safety snapshot
Employment is shifting while contractors report labor-finding difficulty and safety outcomes remain a concern.
29% of U.S. construction fatalities are due to falls (2022)29%
26% of excavation contractors reported difficulty finding workers in the U.S. (2024)
26%
10.1% year-over-year (YoY) increase in U.S. construction employment in April 2024 vs April 2023
10.1%
1.7% of construction workers reported a nonfatal injury/illness in 2022 (U.S.)
1.7%
source-verifiedbls.gov · agc.org2024
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Excavation Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/excavation-industry-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "Excavation Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/excavation-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Excavation Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/excavation-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
26 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+13 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)