LEAP TD: Construction 2026

LEAP TD: Construction returns to Nashville on June 23-25, uniting the industry's talent development community at a pivotal moment. With labour shortages intensifying, capability gaps widening, and project volumes rising, Talent Development is no longer a support function - it's becoming a strategic advantage that drives retention, strengthens culture, builds leadership capability, and enables workforce scalability when every skilled worker counts.
 

 

The pressures on the industry are escalating. In 2026, construction organizations will need 499,000 new workers, up from 439,000 in 2025, even as retirements accelerate and fewer young people enter the field. More than 40% of the workforce is expected to retire by 2031, while only 10% of workers today are under 25, highlighting a critical skills and leadership pipeline challenge. At the same time, rapid technology adoption and rising project demand mean nearly 40% of current skillsets could be outdated by 2030, shifting expectations around how teams learn, lead, and deliver work on site.
 

 

Leading contractors are responding by rethinking how work gets done and redesigning how they develop their people. Talent development is becoming a core driver of productivity, safety, and long‑term resilience, with organisations prioritising scalable, accessible learning that strengthens capability across the workforce.