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U.S. construction employment is projected to rise from about 8.27 million jobs in 2025 to 8.68 million in 2035, a net increase of 410,700, or 5%. An NAHB analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics projections points to specialty trade contractors as the largest source of growth, with electricians expected to post the biggest occupational gain.
U.S. construction employment is projected to increase by 410,700 jobs, from about 8.27 million in 2025 to 8.68 million in 2035, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections analyzed by the National Association of Home Builders. The forecast amounts to 5% growth, faster than the projected 3.5% rise in total U.S. employment over the same period.
The projected gains are concentrated in two parts of the industry. Specialty trade contractors are forecast to add 270,600 jobs, while residential building construction is projected to add 34,200. Together, those categories account for about 74% of construction’s projected net job growth, according to the NAHB analysis.
Specialty trade contractors include businesses involved in work such as electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, roofing and other specialized construction activities. Within that segment, electricians are projected to add the most jobs, with a gain of 65,700 from 2025 to 2035. Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers are forecast to add 40,900; construction laborers, 34,800; and plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, 27,900.
In residential building construction, the largest projected occupational increase is for construction laborers, with 13,900 additional jobs. The projections also show gains of 8,100 for carpenters, 5,100 for construction managers, 2,800 for first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers, and 1,700 for project management specialists. These are projected changes, not counts of vacancies or guaranteed hires.
Trade Contractors Drive Forecast Gains
The projections point to a construction workforce expansion that is expected to outpace the overall U.S. employment market over the decade. If realized, the increase would mean more jobs across on-site work, specialized trades and project oversight, with specialty contractors accounting for most of the net gain.
The occupational breakdown also gives a clearer picture of where the forecast growth is expected to fall. The largest listed increases are in electrical work, heating and cooling systems, construction labor and plumbing trades. That information may matter to employers planning recruitment and training, as well as workers considering construction careers. The figures do not, however, establish that employers will face shortages or that every projected position will be filled.
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How the 2035 Estimate Was Built
The estimate comes from Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections for 2025 and 2035, as reported and analyzed by the NAHB. Hardware Retailing summarized the analysis, which compares projected construction employment with the expected change in total U.S. employment.
The report describes a net employment increase across the construction industry and breaks the forecast down by industry segment and occupation. Its headline figure of roughly 400,000 jobs refers more precisely to 410,700 projected additional jobs, or 5% growth from the 2025 estimate. These projections describe an expected change over a decade; they are not a yearly hiring target.
Projections Are Not Hiring Guarantees
The figures are forecasts for 2025 to 2035, not confirmed future job creation. The source material does not provide annual estimates, state-by-state projections, wage forecasts or details about the assumptions behind particular occupational gains. It also does not say how changes in construction demand, technology, policy or economic conditions could affect the outlook.
The 410,700 figure is a projected net increase in employment. The source does not give a separate estimate of total hiring needs, which can include workers hired to replace people leaving jobs as well as positions created through growth. The forecast also does not establish whether the projected workers will be available or whether employers will experience labor shortages.
Track Updated Labor Forecasts
The next clear measure will come from later Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections and actual employment data, which can show whether construction is tracking toward the forecast. Readers should distinguish projected job growth from reported hiring and employment counts as new data become available.
The supplied report does not identify a specific follow-up release date or announce a new hiring program. Any assessment of progress toward the 2035 estimate will depend on updated industry and occupation figures over time.
Key Questions
How many construction jobs are projected to be added by 2035?
The projections estimate a net increase of 410,700 jobs between 2025 and 2035, bringing U.S. construction employment from about 8.27 million to 8.68 million.
Which construction segment is forecast to add the most jobs?
Specialty trade contractors are projected to add 270,600 jobs, the largest segment-level increase in the NAHB analysis.
Which occupation has the largest projected gain?
Among the listed specialty contractor occupations, electricians are projected to gain 65,700 jobs. In residential building construction, construction laborers lead with a projected increase of 13,900.
Is the 410,700-job increase guaranteed?
No. It is a projection for 2025 to 2035, not a confirmed count of future hires. Actual employment may differ as conditions change.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
