Latest construction data indicated activity outside data center boom

An article from Latest construction data indicated activity outside data center boom

While other sectors showed signs of life in April, much of the momentum still flowed through data center and public infrastructure projects.

Published June 16, 2026

Sebastian Obando Senior Reporter

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Crews clean the entrance to the Lincoln Memorial on June 6, 2026, in the District of Columbia. Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images via Getty Images

Construction activity may have begun to find its footing beyond data center builds in April, according to the most recent construction economic reports.

Planning activity improved over the month alongside a jump in total construction groundbreakings. Backlog climbed to a 10-month high, while job openings reached their highest level of 2026.

But much of the industry’s momentum still flowed through familiar channels.

Data centers remained the largest driver behind planning growth. Large contractors, on the other hand, continue to capture most of those backlog gains.

Public infrastructure and AI-related projects accounted for much of the spending growth. Other areas of private construction continued to soften, such as manufacturing construction.

Rising material costs also lingered, as most materials notched another round of price increases over the month. Input prices surged month over month in April, driven by energy and tariff-sensitive materials.

Read below for Construction Dive’s roundup of the latest economic data.

Data centers remain ‘largest driver behind growth’ in construction planning By Sebastian Obando • May 11, 2026

Nonresidential planning accelerated in April after a slow start to the year, according to Dodge Construction Network. Read the full article ➔
Construction prices ‘surged’ in April, up 6.2% year to date By Sebastian Obando • May 14, 2026

Input prices have now risen more during the first four months of 2026 than over the past three years, according to Associated Builders and Contractors. Read the full article ➔
AI boosted backlog to 10-month high in April, but only for biggest contractors By Sebastian Obando • May 14, 2026

Growth remained heavily concentrated among larger firms, particularly those with data center contracts, according to Associated Builders and Contractors. Read the full article ➔
Construction starts jumped in April as more project types broke ground By Sebastian Obando • May 22, 2026

Unlike recent months, groundbreakings stretched beyond a handful of data center and energy megaprojects, according to Dodge Construction Network. Read the full article ➔
April construction job openings hit highest mark of 2026 By Zachary Phillips • June 3, 2026

As the number of unfilled positions jumped 10.6% MOM, the rate of layoffs hit a four-year low, indicating contractors are clinging to the workers they already have. Read the full article ➔
Data center construction spending rocketed 28% in the last year By Sebastian Obando • June 3, 2026

Overall nonresidential construction spending, however, ticked up 0.1% month over month in April, with momentum elsewhere “difficult to find,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. Read the full article ➔