The North American construction industry is off to a strong start in 2026, with nonresidential construction activity experiencing significant gains fueled by megaprojects and continued investment in data centers, according to ConstructConnect’s April Construction Economy Brief.
.jpg)
ConstructConnect Chief Economist Michael Guckes highlighted the robust momentum in a monthly video series, noting that early-year construction starts have exceeded expectations across several key sectors. The report points to a combination of large-scale investments and diversified project opportunities as major contributors to the industry’s growth trajectory.
Construction activity in the first months of 2026 has been marked by a dramatic increase in high-value projects, particularly those exceeding $1 billion. According to the report, megaprojects are up more than 500% year-to-date, signaling strong investor confidence and a renewed focus on large-scale infrastructure and commercial developments.
A key driver behind this surge is the continued expansion of office-related construction, including data centers. These facilities alone account for approximately $35.6 billion in construction activity, underscoring their growing importance in the digital economy.
“How offices (including data centers) are driving a massive jump in starts,” the report notes, emphasizing the outsized role this segment plays in overall construction growth.
The rise of data centers reflects increasing demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence infrastructure and digital services, all of which require significant physical infrastructure investments. While these projects dominate headlines, the report stresses that they are only one part of a broader expansion across the construction landscape.
Beyond data centers and megaprojects, the construction economy is benefiting from a wide range of opportunities across multiple sectors. Nonresidential building construction is up approximately 80% compared to the same period last year, indicating widespread growth beyond a single project type.
The report also highlights an additional $32 billion in construction opportunities coming from sectors outside of data centers. These gains are distributed across eight nonresidential and civil subcategories, all of which are showing healthy growth across both public and private markets.
.jpg)
“Where the additional $32 billion in construction opportunity is coming from outside of data centers,” the brief explains, pointing to a more balanced and resilient industry outlook.
This diversification is particularly important for contractors and firms that do not specialize in data center construction. With multiple sectors expanding simultaneously, companies have more avenues to secure work and maintain steady pipelines.
The report ultimately underscores a key takeaway for industry stakeholders: while high-profile projects may dominate attention, the broader construction economy is experiencing widespread and sustainable growth.
ConstructConnect encourages industry professionals to stay informed through its ongoing analysis and data-driven insights, which aim to help contractors, manufacturers and developers navigate evolving market conditions and identify emerging opportunities.
Originally reported by Julie Riley, Social Media Manager in Construct Connect News.
