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U.S. construction employment is projected to increase by 410,700 jobs, or 5%, from 2025 to 2035, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections analyzed by the NAHB. Specialty trade contractors are expected to account for the largest share of the increase, led by gains for electricians and HVAC technicians.
U.S. construction employment is projected to add 410,700 jobs between 2025 and 2035, rising from about 8.27 million to 8.68 million, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections analyzed by the National Association of Home Builders. The projected 5% increase is faster than the 3.5% growth forecast for total U.S. employment over the same period.
The projected gain is concentrated in two parts of the industry: specialty trade contractors, expected to add 270,600 jobs, and residential building construction, projected to add 34,200. Together, those segments account for about 74% of construction’s forecast net employment increase, according to the analysis reported by Hardware Retailing.
Specialty trade contractors include businesses involved in work such as electrical installation, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and roofing. Within that segment, electricians are projected to gain 65,700 jobs 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.
Residential building employment growth is forecast to include 13,900 additional construction laborers and 8,100 additional carpenters. The projections also point to gains for construction managers, up 5,100 jobs in residential building, and first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers, up 2,800. Project management specialists are projected to add 1,700 jobs in that segment.
Where Construction Hiring May Grow
The forecast suggests that employment growth will be uneven across construction, with specialty trades accounting for most of the projected net gain. That matters for workers, employers and training providers because the largest projected increases are tied to specific skilled occupations, including electricians, HVAC mechanics and plumbers.
For businesses that rely on construction activity, including suppliers and contractors, a larger projected workforce could affect hiring plans and demand for trade skills. The figures are forecasts, not a guarantee that employers will create each projected position. Actual hiring will depend on economic conditions and construction activity over the decade.
The comparison with total U.S. employment also gives the estimate a broader frame: the construction industry’s projected 5% growth exceeds the 3.5% forecast for employment overall. The difference indicates faster anticipated growth, but does not establish how many openings will be available at a given time or whether employers will find enough qualified workers.
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How the Forecast Breaks Down
The figures cover 2025 through 2035 and come from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, as presented in an analysis by the NAHB. Hardware Retailing reported the analysis. The total is an industry-wide projection, while the occupation-level figures describe projected changes within specified construction segments.
The two leading segments differ in scale: specialty trade contractors are projected to add 270,600 jobs, compared with 34,200 in residential building construction. The report describes specialty contractors as covering a range of specialized activities across the wider construction market, including electrical, plumbing, HVAC and roofing work.
Within residential building, the forecast includes both on-site roles and positions related to coordination and supervision. In addition to laborers and carpenters, the listed gains include 5,100 construction managers and 2,800 first-line supervisors. These estimates are part of the broader industry forecast and should not be read as a separate count of all construction openings.
What the Job Estimates Do Not Show
The figures are projections rather than confirmed future job additions. The source material does not provide a year-by-year hiring path, regional breakdowns, wage estimates, or a count of replacement openings caused by retirements and workers leaving the industry. It also does not specify how many of the projected net gains will be full-time positions or how they may be distributed among employers.
The analysis does not establish what factors will drive the forecast growth, or whether actual construction employment will match the estimates. Economic conditions, construction demand and other developments during the decade could affect hiring. The supplied material also does not provide details on the underlying assumptions behind the BLS projections.
Occupation figures should be interpreted within their stated segments. For example, the projected 13,900 additional laborers in residential building and 34,800 among specialty trade contractors refer to separate segment estimates; the source does not present them as a complete count of all laborer jobs across every part of the industry.
The 2035 Projection Period
The forecast covers the period from 2025 to 2035; the source material does not identify a separate policy decision, hiring target or scheduled update tied to the report. The projected figures provide a benchmark for that decade, with specialty trade contractors and selected skilled trades accounting for much of the expected growth.
As employment data and construction activity develop, later information may clarify whether hiring is tracking the projection and how changes vary by occupation or region. For now, the reported numbers describe expected net employment growth over the full period, not a timetable for when individual jobs will be added.
Key Questions
How many construction jobs are projected to be added by 2035?
The projection is 410,700 net jobs from 2025 to 2035, taking U.S. construction employment from about 8.27 million to 8.68 million, according to BLS estimates analyzed by the NAHB.
Which construction segment is projected to add the most jobs?
Specialty trade contractors are projected to add 270,600 jobs. Residential building construction is forecast to add 34,200.
Which occupations have the largest projected gains?
Among specialty trade contractors, electricians are projected to add 65,700 jobs, followed by HVAC mechanics and installers at 40,900. In residential building, construction laborers are forecast to add 13,900 jobs.
Is the 410,700 figure a confirmed count of new jobs?
No. It is a projection for 2025 to 2035, not a confirmed hiring total. Actual employment may differ as construction demand and economic conditions change.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
