Data Centers, Infrastructure Prop Up Construction Backlog
Date Posted: October 23, 2025
Posted In: Discussion, News,
From Construction Dive: Construction backlog held at 8.5 months in September, unchanged from August, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors survey conducted Sept. 22 to Oct. 6.
Over the past 12 months, only infrastructure construction has added on to contractors’ pipelines, according to ABC. Other commercial and institutional work lagged.
Contractor confidence showed mixed signals in September, as profit margins and staffing outlooks improved but sales expectations declined, according to the report.
Dive Insight:
The stability in backlog underscores how a pair of sectors continue to anchor construction pipelines, even as overall private-sector activity weakens.
“Falling industrywide employment, a dearth of job openings and ongoing decreases in construction spending have not diminished ABC contractor member backlog or confidence,” said Anirban Basu, ABC chief economist, in the release. “This stability primarily stems from two sources.”
First, public sector construction has fared much better than private-level activity for much of this year, said Basu. That has supported an elevated backlog in infrastructure.