Construction labor shortages and Agristo plant reshape North Dakota workforce

Grand Forks, North Dakota, October 4, 2025

News Summary

A tightening labor market is reshaping North Dakota as nationwide construction shortages, rising wages and expanded training collide with a major industrial investment. The construction sector faces a national shortfall of about 400,000 workers while North Dakota average wages rose 4.6%. Local firms report gaps in field supervision, project management and skilled trades and are expanding apprenticeships, campus hiring and outreach. Education programs are scaling up and the planned $450 million Agristo processing facility in Grand Forks — requiring thousands of acres of potatoes and projected to create 200–300 jobs — is prompting regional workforce and agricultural planning.

Construction labor shortages, rising wages, expanded training programs and Agristo’s $450M Grand Forks plant underscore North Dakota workforce shifts

The construction industry in and around North Dakota is shifting as a combination of labor shortages, rising wages, and expanded recruitment and training efforts collide with a major new industrial project. The most immediate developments include a nationwide shortfall in construction workers, steady wage gains across North Dakota, and the start of site work for Agristo’s planned $450 million processing plant in Grand Forks.

Key labor gap and what employers report

The construction industry is facing a labor shortage of about 400,000 workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local and regional contractors say the shortage shows up most sharply in leadership roles: the hardest positions to fill in the region’s construction industry are field supervision and project management roles. National certification bodies have also noted that field supervision is a high-demand/low-supply market and warned the shortfall could worsen as more workers reach retirement age.

General contractors and trade contractors in the region report demand rising for carpenters, masons and other skilled labor, while some firms also see growing need for mechanical and electrical engineers on mission-critical projects. One employer said superintendent roles have traditionally been the hardest to fill, and another reported carpenter and labor positions are becoming more challenging to staff in general.

How companies are responding

Several contractors are expanding early-career hiring, internship programs and partnerships with trade schools. One firm has steadily grown its internship program year over year to create a pipeline for both field and project-management talent. Another developed a Registered Apprenticeship program in 2021 to build a training pathway for individuals with little or no carpentry experience; apprentices receive classroom and on-the-job training and earn a wage while learning.

Union contractors emphasize the role of trade unions in promoting careers in the trades and exposing students to opportunities. Contractors and unions alike visit high schools and maintain trade-centered classroom education paired with on-the-job training to build the next generation of craftspeople. Retention-focused strategies reported by firms include emphasizing interesting and challenging work, career development, regular career-path check-ins, leadership training and a positive company culture that treats employees as extended members of the organization.

Education and training expansion

State universities and technical programs are expanding construction-related offerings and hands-on labs. One land-grant university offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Construction Management and Construction Engineering, a Master of Science in Construction Management, an online Master of Construction Management, and an online graduate certificate in Construction Management. Its construction curriculum maintains accreditations and is updated annually with industry input. The same campus is building a new $100 million Richard Offerdahl Engineering Complex scheduled to open in fall 2026, and that new building will include two premium labs dedicated to construction programs.

A nearby state university has seen rapid growth in its Concrete Industry Management program, which began with two students in 2021 and now has over 60 students. That program provides hands-on lab experience in concrete molding and testing and teaches how to run a ready-mix concrete plant.

Agristo’s Grand Forks investment

Agristo, a Belgian family-owned producer of frozen potato products, has begun site preparation for its first U.S. processing facility in Grand Forks. Agristo’s planned U.S. facility represents a USD 450 million investment on a 360-acre plot and will produce French fries, waffle fries, hashbrowns, tater tots and other potato specialties for the North American retail market. To support full-capacity operations, Agristo will require over 20,000 acres of potatoes, and local seed growers are scaling up production of Agristo’s preferred varieties. The fall 2027 crop is earmarked to supply the facility for its planned opening in January 2028. A ceremonial groundbreaking for Agristo in Grand Forks is scheduled for April 2026, signaling the transition to full-scale construction. The Grand Forks facility is projected to generate over 200 jobs upon launch and scale to more than 300 positions at full production, spanning production, maintenance, logistics, quality control and management.

Wage trends and employment data in North Dakota

Wages across North Dakota continue to climb. New data show the average annual wage in North Dakota increased from $59,050 to $61,810 in the past year, a 4.6% increase, and wages in the state have risen 33% since 2015. Despite gains, the state still lags the national average; the wage gap widened from being $2,020 behind in 2015 to $6,110 behind now.

Unemployment across North Dakota remains extremely low; about 1,300 people in the whole state are receiving unemployment benefits. Job postings in the state system show fewer than 0.5 resumes per opening. In 2024, North Dakota employment increased 1.7% compared to one year prior, a gain of 7,053 jobs. Of 20 major industry categories, 14 reported employment increases, with the largest gains in health care and social assistance (up 1,885), construction (up 1,872), and government (up 1,272).

Regional pay snapshots

Average annual wage for construction and extraction occupations across North Dakota (all industries) was $64,250 in 2023 and $66,150 in 2024, a 2.9% increase. Metro-level changes include Fargo‑Moorhead construction and extraction wages of $60,180 in 2023 and $62,450 in 2024, and Grand Forks–East Grand Forks construction and extraction wages of $59,480 in 2023 and $61,460 in 2024.

What this means going forward

Contractors, unions and education providers are expanding recruitment, apprenticeships and hands-on training to address a limited pool of experienced tradespeople, especially among people aged roughly 30–40. The combined effect of industrywide labor gaps, wage pressure, and a large incoming investment creates both urgency and opportunity: companies need to hire at scale, and new training programs, internships and apprenticeship pathways are being used to build that workforce.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Key features at a glance

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

Additional Resources

• PotatoPro: Agristo launches major U.S. expansion — Grand Forks potato plant
• Wikipedia: Agristo Grand Forks potato plant
• Grand Forks Herald: Statistics show North Dakota worker paychecks continue to rise on average
• Google Search: North Dakota average wage 2024
• Grand Forks Herald: RJ Zavoral & Sons built on family and driven by excellence
• Google Scholar: RJ Zavoral Sons Grand Forks construction
• City of Grand Forks: Business — Bids & RFP
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Grand Forks bids RFP
• Minot Daily News: Temporary B-1 relocation to Grand Forks approved
• Google News: Temporary B-1 relocation Grand Forks

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