Bridgit's 2026 Construction Workforce Benchmark Report Sheds Light on Labor Challenges

📅 1 days ago 🏷️ Bridgit

Bridgit's latest report reveals alarming attrition rates in the construction industry, emphasizing the need for improved workforce strategies to retain experienced talent.

Bridgit, a prominent player in construction workforce planning software, unveiled its 2026 Construction Workforce Benchmark Report on April 1, 2026, illuminating critical labor market dynamics within the industry. This inaugural report synthesizes real workforce data from 233 contractors, encompassing more than 114,000 professionals, and representing nearly 40% of the Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 400 firms. The findings challenge preconceived notions surrounding the labor market in construction, presenting contractors with a data-backed benchmark to refine their workforce strategies.
Among the key takeaways from the report, it was noted that a staggering 46% of contractors experienced zero net headcount growth in 2025. The median attrition rate across the industry sits at 18.7%, indicating that to achieve an increase of 100 personnel, a contractor must recruit approximately 125 individuals to offset turnover. In a more alarming scenario, a contractor facing a 35% attrition rate would need to hire 154 people to net the desired 100 new hires.
Bridgit's CEO, Mallorie Brodie, emphasized the disconnect between instinctual workforce decisions and data-driven approaches. She stated, "What this data shows—drawn directly from the workforce plans of the world’s largest contractors—is that the gap between instinct and data is measured in years of planning horizon and points of attrition. The companies pulling ahead are the ones thinking ahead.” Bridgit's co-founder, Lauren Lake, highlighted the importance of customer engagement throughout 2025, underscoring the company’s commitment to aligning its vision with that of industry leaders.
The report further contextualizes the ongoing labor shortage in construction, pinpointing a more complex issue: the scarcity of experienced talent in critical roles such as site superintendents and project managers. Senior Superintendents typically have a median tenure of seven years and an attrition rate of only 4.1%, while Senior Project Managers exhibit even greater stability with a median tenure of 5.6 years and a mere 3.6% attrition rate. In contrast, their junior counterparts face turnover rates that are more than double, reflecting a significant gap in retention strategies.
Additionally, Bridgit's findings indicate a substantial shift in the construction project landscape over the past five years. Industrial and Manufacturing project starts surged by 68.1% year-over-year, driven by current tariff policies and a trend towards supply chain re-shoring. Transportation and Infrastructure projects also saw a notable increase of 45.2%, whereas Solar project starts plummeted by 44.4%. This evolution in project types suggests that workforce planning must now consider not only revenue potential but also the specific skills required for diverse project scopes.
The report introduces a novel metric known as the “rookie ratio,” which assesses the balance of experience on project teams prior to commencement. This ratio reflects the proportion of team members with less than one year of tenure alongside seasoned members. The average rookie ratio across the dataset stands at 36.4%, with larger teams (51+ members) reaching approximately 56%, while smaller teams (three to five members) average around 25%. Contractors are encouraged to leverage this ratio as a strategic tool during pre-project planning to ensure that team experience aligns with project complexity.
Bridgit is dedicated to transforming talent management within the construction industry, aiming to modernize people strategies and enhance workforce optimization. The company has successfully raised over CAD 43.5 million in equity financing from notable investors, including Autodesk and Salesforce Ventures. For further insights, the complete Construction Workforce Benchmark Report can be accessed at Bridgit's website.
This report not only highlights the pressing need for improved workforce strategies amidst high attrition rates but also emphasizes the importance of retaining experienced personnel to navigate the evolving landscape of the construction industry.

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