What this industry includes

Construction covers businesses that build, renovate, and repair buildings and infrastructure, including specialty trade contractors. Common examples include home builders, general contractors, plumbers, electricians, roofers, HVAC contractors, and concrete companies.

2024 state comparison

Wyoming had the highest construction employment concentration in 2024. Idaho recorded the fastest establishment growth from 2019, while Idaho recorded the fastest job growth. The tables use BLS QCEW private-sector annual data.

1

Industry concentration
Wyoming has the highest construction employment location quotient.

2

Establishment growth
Idaho has the fastest establishment growth rate among the 50 states.

3

Job growth
Idaho has the fastest private-sector job growth rate among the 50 states.

Where the industry is most concentrated

States ranked by their 2024 employment location quotient for construction. A location quotient above 1.00 means the industry represents a larger share of state employment than it does nationally.

RankStateEmployment LQEstablishment LQ2024 jobs
1Wyoming1.601.4823,679
2Utah1.541.44138,261
3Idaho1.521.7168,668
4Louisiana1.391.05140,211
5Montana1.381.6037,240
6Nevada1.350.78109,637
7Arizona1.341.05226,684
8North Dakota1.291.3829,118
9Florida1.251.24647,881
10Colorado1.231.12187,210

Fastest establishment growth

States ranked by the percent change in construction establishments from 2019 to 2024.

RankState2024 establishmentsChange vs 2019Job change vs 2019
1Idaho13,678+5,503 (+67.3%)+17,984 (+35.5%)
2Tennessee17,112+4,625 (+37.0%)+33,248 (+25.6%)
3Arizona18,417+4,740 (+34.7%)+55,375 (+32.3%)
4Georgia27,911+6,503 (+30.4%)+24,340 (+11.9%)
5North Carolina36,186+8,212 (+29.4%)+40,408 (+17.4%)
6Utah15,610+3,398 (+27.8%)+28,775 (+26.3%)
7Alabama12,667+2,598 (+25.8%)+13,216 (+14.1%)
8Kentucky11,918+2,401 (+25.2%)+13,023 (+16.2%)
9Delaware3,758+751 (+25.0%)+1,374 (+6.0%)
10Montana7,965+1,533 (+23.8%)+7,326 (+24.5%)

Fastest job growth

States ranked by the percent change in construction private-sector jobs from 2019 to 2024.

RankState2024 jobsChange vs 2019Employment LQ
1Idaho68,668+17,984 (+35.5%)1.52
2Arizona226,684+55,375 (+32.3%)1.34
3Arkansas66,880+14,342 (+27.3%)0.98
4Utah138,261+28,775 (+26.3%)1.54
5Tennessee163,374+33,248 (+25.6%)0.95
6Montana37,240+7,326 (+24.5%)1.38
7South Dakota29,227+5,618 (+23.8%)1.21
8Maine35,306+5,319 (+17.7%)1.04
9North Carolina272,147+40,408 (+17.4%)1.06
10Indiana169,546+23,695 (+16.2%)1.02

All states

State2024 establishmentsEstablishment change vs 20192024 jobsJob change vs 2019Employment LQAverage annual pay
Alabama12,667+2,598 (+25.8%)106,835+13,216 (+14.1%)0.97$73,164
Alaska2,597+147 (+6.0%)18,528+2,132 (+13.0%)1.07$101,740
Arizona18,417+4,740 (+34.7%)226,684+55,375 (+32.3%)1.34$79,419
Arkansas8,276+1,183 (+16.7%)66,880+14,342 (+27.3%)0.98$65,877
California93,997+9,750 (+11.6%)913,470+27,802 (+3.1%)0.96$89,462
Colorado21,702+1,272 (+6.2%)187,210+8,330 (+4.7%)1.23$81,389
Connecticut9,742+246 (+2.6%)63,272+3,541 (+5.9%)0.72$87,536
Delaware3,758+751 (+25.0%)24,283+1,374 (+6.0%)0.97$77,558
Florida84,936+10,225 (+13.7%)647,881+84,355 (+15.0%)1.25$70,262
Georgia27,911+6,503 (+30.4%)228,291+24,340 (+11.9%)0.89$80,355
Hawaii4,444+493 (+12.5%)38,682+1,702 (+4.6%)1.15$92,648
Idaho13,678+5,503 (+67.3%)68,668+17,984 (+35.5%)1.52$64,986
Illinois32,693+7 (+0.0%)236,852+8,884 (+3.9%)0.75$90,842
Indiana16,884+1,652 (+10.8%)169,546+23,695 (+16.2%)1.02$77,792
Iowa9,524+62 (+0.7%)84,842+6,708 (+8.6%)1.03$73,507
Kansas7,680+281 (+3.8%)71,160+7,425 (+11.6%)0.95$73,233
Kentucky11,918+2,401 (+25.2%)93,486+13,023 (+16.2%)0.90$73,350
Louisiana12,724+1,733 (+15.8%)140,211-1,822 (-1.3%)1.39$80,936
Maine6,479+874 (+15.6%)35,306+5,319 (+17.7%)1.04$71,860
Maryland16,372-322 (-1.9%)164,323-1,809 (-1.1%)1.13$82,207
Massachusetts21,891+582 (+2.7%)170,524+7,462 (+4.6%)0.89$99,956
Michigan23,664+2,558 (+12.1%)195,782+22,767 (+13.2%)0.85$81,756
Minnesota18,401+1,701 (+10.2%)138,042+10,950 (+8.6%)0.90$88,597
Mississippi6,876+1,105 (+19.1%)50,576+6,033 (+13.5%)0.83$67,288
Missouri16,784+1,651 (+10.9%)146,623+19,982 (+15.8%)0.96$78,644
Montana7,965+1,533 (+23.8%)37,240+7,326 (+24.5%)1.38$71,337
Nebraska7,596+558 (+7.9%)62,181+8,449 (+15.7%)1.16$70,252
Nevada6,593+741 (+12.7%)109,637+13,698 (+14.3%)1.35$79,239
New Hampshire5,552+860 (+18.3%)32,249+4,424 (+15.9%)0.89$84,808
New Jersey22,218-338 (-1.5%)164,016+4,554 (+2.9%)0.73$89,708
New Mexico5,533-38 (-0.7%)53,894+3,741 (+7.5%)1.18$68,335
New York52,642+2,210 (+4.4%)388,163-17,487 (-4.3%)0.76$89,003
North Carolina36,186+8,212 (+29.4%)272,147+40,408 (+17.4%)1.06$74,318
North Dakota3,936+244 (+6.6%)29,118+1,157 (+4.1%)1.29$80,119
Ohio26,050+2,645 (+11.3%)249,045+22,482 (+9.9%)0.86$79,720
Oklahoma11,174+1,373 (+14.0%)86,068+3,234 (+3.9%)0.97$66,390
Oregon18,009+3,383 (+23.1%)116,080+7,209 (+6.6%)1.11$82,371
Pennsylvania30,625+1,486 (+5.1%)260,266-629 (-0.2%)0.82$82,174
Rhode Island4,096+263 (+6.9%)22,211+2,231 (+11.2%)0.85$81,512
South Carolina15,793+2,837 (+21.9%)117,961+10,933 (+10.2%)0.98$74,623
South Dakota4,405+508 (+13.0%)29,227+5,618 (+23.8%)1.21$67,917
Tennessee17,112+4,625 (+37.0%)163,374+33,248 (+25.6%)0.95$79,546
Texas64,262+11,014 (+20.7%)857,532+83,342 (+10.8%)1.17$83,416
Utah15,610+3,398 (+27.8%)138,261+28,775 (+26.3%)1.54$70,203
Vermont3,028+182 (+6.4%)16,196+913 (+6.0%)1.00$70,362
Virginia23,062+1,594 (+7.4%)217,926+15,792 (+7.8%)1.01$78,741
Washington27,578+1,106 (+4.2%)211,938+6,221 (+3.0%)1.12$85,665
West Virginia4,704+366 (+8.4%)33,672-1,787 (-5.0%)0.92$70,142
Wisconsin15,864+1,041 (+7.0%)140,998+16,614 (+13.4%)0.91$79,702
Wyoming3,514+87 (+2.5%)23,679+804 (+3.5%)1.60$71,011

Source note

Source: BLS QCEW annual files, NAICS 23 Construction, private-sector establishments, annual average employment, location quotients, and average annual pay. Changes compare 2024 with 2019. QCEW covers employer establishments and jobs.