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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 gain of 410,700, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections analyzed by the NAHB. Specialty trade contractors are expected to account for most of the growth, led by electricians, while the projections do not establish how many jobs will ultimately be created.
U.S. construction employment is projected to increase by 410,700 jobs, or about 5%, between 2025 and 2035, rising from approximately 8.27 million to 8.68 million, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections analyzed by the National Association of Home Builders. The forecast points to faster employment growth in construction than across the overall U.S. workforce, but it is a projection, not a count of jobs already created.
The projected increase exceeds the BLS forecast of 3.5% growth in total U.S. employment over the same decade, according to the report published by Hardware Retailing. The figures cover the construction industry as a whole and estimate net employment change from 2025 through 2035.
Specialty trade contractors are projected to add 270,600 jobs, while residential building construction is projected to add 34,200. Together, those segments account for approximately 74% of construction’s projected net gain. Specialty contractors include businesses doing work such as electrical installation, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and roofing.
Among specialty contractors, electricians are projected to gain 65,700 jobs, the largest occupation-level increase cited in that segment. Heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers are projected to add 40,900 jobs; construction laborers, 34,800; and plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, 27,900. The analysis also projects gains of 17,300 first-line supervisors and 11,200 construction managers in the segment.
Within residential building construction, projected gains include 13,900 construction laborer jobs and 8,100 carpenter jobs. Construction managers are projected to add 5,100 jobs, first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers 2,800, and project management specialists 1,700.
Trade Contractors Drive Forecast Growth
The forecast suggests that most projected construction job growth will be concentrated in specialized on-site trades, rather than spread evenly across every part of the industry. Electricians, HVAC technicians and plumbing workers account for substantial occupation-level gains in the specialty contractor segment.
For workers, employers and training providers, the projections offer a view of where labor demand could expand over the coming decade. If the forecast is borne out, companies may need to recruit and train more workers for trade and supervisory roles. The figures do not, by themselves, show whether employers will be able to fill those positions, what wages will be, or how demand will vary by region.
The comparison with total U.S. employment also gives the projection broader economic relevance: construction is forecast to grow faster than the overall labor market. That could matter to businesses tied to building and renovation, including suppliers, but the report does not quantify the effects on those businesses or on construction output.
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How the 2035 Estimate Was Developed
The estimate comes from Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections for 2025 to 2035, as analyzed by the National Association of Home Builders. Hardware Retailing reported the analysis and its breakdowns by construction segment and occupation. The figures describe projected employment levels and changes over a ten-year period, rather than a short-term jobs report.
The analysis separates construction employment into areas including residential building construction and specialty trade contractors. It also identifies expected changes in specific occupations within those segments. This distinction matters: the projected 270,600-job increase for specialty trade contractors is a segment estimate, while the electrician and HVAC figures are occupation-level gains reported within that segment.
Forecasts Are Not Hiring Results
The reported numbers are projections for 2025–2035, not confirmed future job openings or observed hiring. The source material does not provide a year-by-year schedule, regional breakdown, wage estimates, or details about the assumptions behind each occupation-level estimate.
It is also not clear from the reported figures how changes in construction demand, economic conditions, technology, or the availability of trained workers could affect the eventual totals. The projection does not specify whether particular employers or projects will be responsible for the expected gains. Actual employment may differ from the forecast.
Track Employment Against Projections
The next relevant measure will be updated employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which can show how construction hiring develops relative to the 2025 baseline and the decade-long forecast. Subsequent updates may also clarify whether growth is concentrated in specialty trades and residential construction as projected.
Until those figures are available, the 410,700-job estimate should be read as a long-range outlook. Employers, workers and training organizations can use the occupation-level breakdown as an indication of projected demand, while recognizing that the report does not guarantee particular job gains.
Key Questions
How many construction jobs are projected to be added by 2035?
The projection is for a net increase of 410,700 jobs from 2025 to 2035, taking construction employment from approximately 8.27 million to 8.68 million.
Which construction segment is projected to add the most jobs?
Specialty trade contractors are projected to add 270,600 jobs, the largest segment-level increase in the reported analysis. Residential building construction is projected to add 34,200.
Which occupation has the largest projected gain?
Electricians are projected to add 65,700 jobs among specialty trade contractors between 2025 and 2035, according to the figures in the NAHB analysis.
Are the 410,700 jobs already confirmed?
No. The figure is a forecast based on BLS projections, not a record of jobs already created or a guarantee that employers will hire that number of workers.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
