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Interest rates and policy risks cloud Wisconsin construction in 2026
Wisconsin’s construction industry outperformed the national average in 2025, though uncertainty around interest rates has left the outlook for this year mixed.
Construction sees 90,000 more job openings in November
There were 90,000 more construction job openings in November 2025 than in the previous month. Despite signs of accelerated demand, a construction economist said hiring is still slower than before 2020.
Data centers promise a boon for Wisconsin development
Data centers are driving construction growth in Wisconsin and are a buoy as the industry sees slowed demand. However, they raise questions for energy usage and environmental impact.
Wisconsin adds 3,000 construction jobs over one year
Wisconsin construction jobs increased by more than 3,000 in 12 months in September, while state labor participation dipped lower than the national average. The state unemployment rate stayed under the nation's rate of 4.4%.
US inflation may slow, but the affordability debate is likely to keep raging
Rising housing costs, stubborn inflation pressures and high mortgage rates pose political challenges for Trump in 2026 despite the Fed’s outlook for cooling inflation.
Construction outlook weakens despite Midwest megaprojects
Signs of a shrinking construction economy followed a series of policy changes intended to bolster domestic manufacturing and curb illegal immigration.
Meta announces $1 billion data center in Beaver Dam
Project will have more than 1,000 construction jobs and 100 full-time jobs when completed in 2027.
Oracle, OpenAI named partners in $15 billion Port Washington data center
Vantage Data Centers, OpenAI and Oracle are investing $15 billion into the data center campus in Port Washington.
New financial aid for career training: What to know in Wisconsin
Workforce grants tucked into the lengthy federal funding bill has been on bipartisan wish lists for more than a decade.
Construction careers offer high pay and job security to new grads
The National Student Clearinghouse reports a record number of students enrolled in vocational-focused community colleges in 2023, and students studying the construction trades rose 23%.
Biden’s big semiconductor law will ramp up US chip production — but at a high cost, report finds
Government subsidies behind the expected chip manufacturing boom mean that each job created will cost taxpayers about $185,000 a year, according to a report.
Report: Construction adds 34,000 jobs in August
Firms are still scraping for qualified workers, according to AGC.
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- Rooftop solar system at Appleton library will be increased
- After 50 years in the business, Tom Boldt retires
- Wisconsin Pre-Bid Meetings – Week of June 15, 2026
- Culver’s barn thanking farmers collapses after heavy storms
- Construction equipment maker will expand in Milwaukee’s north side
- High energy prices drive US producer inflation
- Interest rates, construction costs bury downtown hotel plan in Milwaukee
- Wisconsin enacting new residential electrical codes in the fall
- Affordable apartments in Milwaukee’s Harbor District gain financial foothold
- Zoning stalls for mixed-use redevelopment of North Shore Library
- Wisconsin homeowner accuses contractor of leaving remodeling job unfinished
- 200-unit riverfront apartment building gets OK in Milwaukee
Project Profiles
- First prefabricated bridge in US installed in Eau Claire County
- Illinois developer worked with Wisconsin contractor to build 258-unit Wauwatosa apartment complex
- VJS Construction raises the roof for Bruce Guadalupe Community School expansion project
- Microgrid pilot project will store energy for village affected by outages
- Dane County sees uptick in highway work zone crashes, on track to exceed last year
- The Hop streetcar will debut newest service route in fall with limited service
- FPC Live slims venue proposal to 1 downtown building
- Children’s Hospital urgent care center in Milwaukee gets first round of city approval
- With Sonag Construction shut down, feds move to block indicted owner from collecting leftover assets
- Four contractors selected to build border wall prototypes
- UW-Milwaukee’s Greenstreet shaping minds (and the city)
- Turning the Corner(s) (PHOTO SLIDESHOW)