Construction workers in New York City on June 16, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times
With college costs climbing and artificial intelligence (AI) reshaping office work, a growing number of Gen Zers are turning to construction, a new report shows. Industry professionals confirm the shift: “They’re showing up in droves.”
The share of Generation Z workers—those aged 18 to 28—in the construction labor force more than doubled from 2019 to 2023, rising from 6.4 percent to 14.1 percent, according to an Oct. 10 report by the Home Builders Institute (HBI).
Meanwhile, the share of millennials (age 29 to 44) grew from 35.7 to 37.7 percent over the same period. Conversely, the Baby Boomers’ (age 61 to 79) share dropped from 20.6 to 14.2 percent, as older workers moved into retirement.
