2026 Marketplace Construction Market Index Report: Where to Find Top Construction Leads

Exclusive insights into construction industry trends for main contractors and subcontractors

 

Constructionline (part of the Once For All group) is proud to launch it’s first Construction Marketplace Health Index Report looking at a seven-year view of the construction landscape, analysing project data from 2018 to 2025 alongside a survey of 134 subcontractors.

Using real-time data from our Marketplace and Market Intelligence reports, our 2026 Construction Marketplace Health Index Report offers exclusive insights to help you plan and build your business pipeline – with confidence.

Find yourself frequently searching for ‘construction jobs’ or ‘building jobs near me’? We get it.

That’s why we’ve curated insights from our platform to bring you the latest analysis of the UK construction market and where it’s headed for 2026.

 

What does the data say? New builds dominate 74% of market value

 

While the total number of construction projects is falling, project values are climbing – especially in select regions and sectors. 

New Builds remain a dominant force, making up 74% of market value at just over £360 billion worth of projects published on Market Intelligence. Tracking where capital is invested through our platform’s tools is now vital for subcontractors seeking high-value leads. 

Platform metrics reveal New Build average project values have risen by 16% in recent years, while Extension project values have declined steeply. Mid-value jobs are less reliable, so competition for large contracts is greater than ever. Subcontractors need data-driven pipeline and procurement strategies to thrive in this evolving environment.

 

2026 Construction Marketplace Health Index highlights:

 

   £360 billion+ in New Builds over 7 years (almost half of all project value)

 

   +27% rise in Fitting Out project values in the last 2 years

 

   -29% drop in Extension average project value

 

   £134 billion in total project value for London/Middlesex (still the market leader)

 

 

Where are most construction opportunities being advertised? 

Our platform’s dataset shows Scotland and the North West are catching up with London (the indefinite leader) in both construction project volume and value. Subcontractors should diversify beyond the capital, guided by these regional insights. 

Housing is the largest category (£177 billion), but expanding into fast-growing sectors – such as offices, education, and roads, footpaths and cycleways – is crucial, as our data shows a rise in commercial construction project investments. 

 

What next? Find your next opportunity on Marketplace 

Whether you’re a main contractor or subcontractor, download our full report so you can: 

• Dive deeper into the data 
• Get advanced insight into growing sectors for 2026 
• See which regions main contractors are publishing their newest construction leads 
• Discover how to find more opportunities on Marketplace!
  
   

Download our 2026 Construction Market Report