Construction crews across southeast Wyoming are as busy as ever, but the boom comes with plenty of headaches. From inflation and tariffs to a shortage of skilled workers, contractors say they’re juggling major challenges even as demand stays high, ENR Mountain States & Southwest reports.
According to industry leaders, construction activity isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Big-ticket projects range from data centers for Meta and Microsoft to school renovations and upgrades at local landmarks like Cheyenne Frontier Days and F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
But behind the cranes and concrete, contractors are navigating a tough reality.
“The workforce shortage is severe, especially when it comes to skilled trades,” said Benford, who tracks trends in the region. “Add inflation and tariff fears to the mix, and you’ve got a lot of volatility that builders have to price into every job.”
This summer, Richardson Construction has been deep into renovations at McCormick Junior High, while Fortis Construction and Hensel Phelps are spearheading massive data center projects for tech giants Meta and Microsoft.
In Laramie, Knife River is tackling the 3rd Street reconstruction, a project that’s expected to reshape traffic flow through the heart of the city. Meanwhile, Brink Constructors is working on a power transmission project aimed at linking Wyoming’s growing wind and solar farms directly to those data-hungry data centers.
Even with a steady pipeline of work, contractors say they’re bracing for cost swings and labor shortfalls that make planning tough. Steel, lumber, and other materials remain subject to fluctuating prices, while tariffs threaten to add even more uncertainty.
Still, demand for construction — from community staples to cutting-edge tech hubs — means Wyoming’s builders are pressing forward, even if it means sweating the details to keep projects on track.
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