Which Sectors Will Grow in 2026?

The U.S. economy stands at a critical juncture as corporations navigate shifting monetary policy, evolving trade dynamics and technological transformation. With the Federal Reserve signaling further rate adjustments and the 2026 review of the United States-Mexico-Canada
Agreement (USMCA) approaching, corporate leaders must identify growth opportunities while managing emerging risks for the coming year.

The macroeconomic backdrop will shape U.S. business strategy in 2026.

The U.S. economic forecast for 2026 predicts a slowdown. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) projects a GDP growth rate of 1.5% in 2026, down from 1.8% in 2025 and 2.8% in 2024.1 While respondents to a Federal Bank of Philadelphia survey forecasted a slightly more positive outlook, they only expect a growth rate of 1.8% for the year.2 This decrease from previous years reflects the cumulation of monetary tightening, trade uncertainties and global economic realignment. Understanding these dynamics is essential for strategic planning as corporations position themselves for growth. 

The Federal Reserve continues to calibrate monetary policy amid competing pressures.

Goldman Sachs Research predicts the Fed interest rate will settle between 3% and 3.25% by the end of 2026.3 The Federal Reserve projects inflation will moderate to approximately 2.6% by 2026, though this remains above the 2% target.4 The Fed seeks to balance price stability with employment objectives as job creation cools and unemployment edges upward.

The unemployment rate could rise to 4.5%, supporting consumer spending while keeping wage pressures manageable.5 Corporate investment faces headwinds from elevated borrowing costs, though technological transformation and supply chain reconfiguration continue driving capital allocation decisions. The divergence between sectors benefiting from structural tailwinds and those facing cyclical pressures will widen throughout 2026.

Supply chain realignment accelerates North American integration.

Reshoring initiatives continue to reshape North America’s supply chains, with 68% of manufacturers planning to increase regional production capacity by 2026, according to Deloitte’s manufacturing outlook.6 Companies reported over $1.2 trillion in planned investments toward growing U.S. production capacity, with the majority targeting strategic industries including electronics, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.7 The North American Free Trade Agreement  (NAFTA) framework provides competitive advantages for companies leveraging integrated continental supply networks.

Global economic growth projections of 3.1% from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicate steady international demand, though regional variations present both opportunities and challenges.8 Asian markets will expand 4.5% in 2026, reinforcing the strategic importance of diversified geographic exposure for U.S. corporations.9

The USMCA review introduces critical trade variables to watch.

The USMCA 2026 review represents a defining moment for continental commerce. The NAFTA facilitated $1.9 trillion in annual trade among the three countries in 2024.10 Key review areas included:

• Rules of origin requirements affecting the automotive and manufacturing sectors.
• Digital trade provisions impacting technology companies.
• Labor standards enforcement throughout supply chains.

Though among the top American industries, manufacturing sectors with integrated operations in North America are particularly exposed to potential changes. The automotive industry must prepare contingency plans for adjustments. Agricultural exporters, representing $58.7 billion in annual trade with USMCA partners, require clarity on continued market access.11 Strategic planning should incorporate multiple scenarios while maintaining operational flexibility through the review process.

Four sectors demonstrate exceptional growth potential for 2026.

Corporations seeking expansion opportunities will find compelling prospects across technology, energy, manufacturing and healthcare sectors. These top American industries each benefit from structural tailwinds, including federal policy support, demographic trends and technological advancement. The convergence of these factors creates sustained growth trajectories extending beyond typical business cycles.

Artificial intelligence is now an operational necessity.

The enterprise AI market could reach $53.06 billion by 2026.12 Companies across various industries, including hardware, telecom and finance, are implementing production-level AI systems to achieve efficiency gains, thereby accelerating the adoption of enterprise AI solutions. Data center infrastructure investment will exceed $250 billion annually, as computational requirements for large language models, agentic AI and enterprise applications increase.13

Corporate AI integration is moving beyond pilot programs to operational deployment, with 92% of organizations planning to increase their AI investments.14 The transformation creates demand for specialized semiconductors and domestic chip manufacturing capacity is expected to increase by 203% through federal CHIPS Act investments.15 Companies focusing on enterprise AI solutions are positioned to grow in 2026, and those who work with them will also benefit.

Policy support and sustained investment will accelerate renewable energy capacity.

Between 2026 and 2030, renewable energy capacity will range from 30-66 gigawatts annually according to Deloitte's industry outlook.16 This figure is down from the predicted 54 – 85 gigawatts range expected before the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” Act (OBBBA) reduced the qualification windows for credits.

The Inflation Reduction Act’s sustained incentives drive continued capital deployment, with manufacturers expanding domestic production of solar panels, wind turbine components and battery systems. Despite changes from the OBBBA, the federal government remains officially committed to electric vehicle charging infrastructure development and is on track to build 500,000 public stations. This expansion will create opportunities across construction, equipment manufacturing and network management sectors.

Reshoring and automation investments will benefit manufacturing construction.

Construction manufacturing spending reached $230 billion in January 2025, nearly triple the levels of 2021. Only modest declines — 2% to 3% — are expected through 2026.17 Semiconductor, electric vehicle and battery manufacturing will continue to attract substantial investment as U.S. manufacturing grows. The reshoring momentum will also create a cascading demand for industrial real estate.

Deloitte's analysis indicates that 80% of manufacturers are planning significant investments in automation hardware, sensors, data analytics and cloud computing which will drive the expansion of the robotics and industrial software market.18 Supply chain technology spending will grow as organizations focus on visibility platforms and predictive analytics. 

Breakthroughs in biotechnology and digital transformation will fuel healthcare innovation.

The digital health market size surpassed $420.08 billion in 2025 and could exceed $1 trillion by 2034 due to adoption of telehealth and remote patient monitoring expansion.19 Virtual care visits will stabilize and create sustained demand for platform providers and integration services.

U.S. biotechnology trends indicate an acceleration in innovation for cell and gene therapies, with more treatments expected to receive FDA approval by 2026. Personalized medicine advances will drive diagnostic market growth, while technological integration and aging demographics will contribute to medical device manufacturing growth.

Capitalize on growth opportunities.

With compelling growth opportunities, technology, energy, manufacturing and healthcare will be top American industries in 2026. Synovus offers tools and insights to help navigate inherent industry complexities while providing flexible cash and liquidity solutions and tailored commercial banking solutions.

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