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When Markets Compete: Shared Resources Are Reshaping Construction

by Brian Gallagher on

Strong construction demand across multiple sectors is increasing competition for the skilled labor, equipment and suppliers needed to deliver projects. DPR Construction, a forward-thinking, self-performing contractor, sees continued investment in digital infrastructure, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, transportation and energy creating competition for many of the same resources and reinforcing the need for proactive planning and procurement strategies.

DPR’s latest Market Conditions Report examines how projects that may appear unrelated are increasingly connected through shared resources. Electricians, mechanical trades, commissioning specialists and experienced field leaders are supporting work across multiple high-growth sectors.

“Owners need visibility into the markets competing for the same resources as their project,” said Roel Aguilar, DPR’s national preconstruction leader. “That overlap can influence cost, schedule and execution, even when demand in an owner’s own sector hasn’t changed. Understanding those connections helps customers in any sector make better decisions to keep projects on track and deliver for their end user.”

Supply networks continue to function, but concentrated demand can influence pricing, lead times and availability, particularly as manufacturing capacity, transportation, sourcing options and trade policy shift. Through May 2026, the producer price index for new nonresidential construction inputs was up 8.4% year over year, the largest annual increase since the pandemic period.

The report highlights three areas project teams should consider:

  • Know where resources overlap. Identify critical trades, equipment and suppliers that are also serving fast-growing sectors in the region.
     
  • Test capacity against the schedule. Confirm key trade partners, suppliers and delivery windows align when the project needs them.
     
  • Preserve options. Sequencing, prefabrication, design coordination and sourcing alternatives can provide flexibility as market demand shifts.

The Q3 report also tracks material costs, trade policy, transportation, power availability and logistics, and outlines mitigation strategies teams can use as conditions change. DPR’s outlook remains positive heading toward 2027, with long-term investment continuing across major sectors. Teams that connect these market signals to estimating, design, procurement and field execution will be better positioned to turn that demand into predictable project outcomes.

For more data, trends and guidance on current construction market conditions, explore the full report and DPR’s interactive market conditions dashboard.