Construction Employment Hits Record 8.34 Million in 2026, With Real Wages Varying Sharply by Region

NewsData.io · United States · Sep 21, 2026

Total U.S. construction employment surpassed 8.34 million workers by mid-2026, an all-time high, according to a Construction Coverage analysis of BLS and Bureau of Economic Analysis data. Construction workers earn a median of $49,540 annually—roughly 17% above the overall U.S. median—but cost-of-living-adjusted purchasing power varies dramatically by region, with Midwestern states like Illinois ($80,604 COL-adjusted) topping the rankings and Southern states like Florida ($47,740) and Texas ($50,661) near the bottom. For staffing firms serving the construction trades, the data signals continued strong hiring demand alongside persistent wage competition pressures, particularly in high-cost coastal markets.