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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 gain of 410,700, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections analyzed by NAHB. Specialty trade contractors are expected to account for the largest share of the increase, led by electricians, while the projection does not establish how many openings employers will need to fill.
U.S. construction employment is projected to grow by 410,700 jobs, or about 5%, from 2025 to 2035, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections analyzed by the National Association of Home Builders. The forecast would bring industry employment from approximately 8.27 million to 8.68 million, a faster rate of growth than the projected 3.5% increase in total U.S. employment.
The projected increase is concentrated in two industry segments: specialty trade contractors, expected to add 270,600 jobs, and residential building construction, projected to add 34,200. Together, those segments account for approximately 74% of construction’s forecast net employment gain, according to the NAHB analysis. Specialty contractors include businesses involved in work such as electrical installation, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, roofing and other specialized construction activities.
Within residential building construction, construction laborers are projected to have the largest employment increase, adding 13,900 jobs over the decade. The forecast also calls for 8,100 more carpenters, 5,100 more construction managers, 2,800 more first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers, and 1,700 more project management specialists.
For specialty trade contractors, the largest projected occupational gain is among electricians, with 65,700 additional jobs. Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers are projected to add 40,900 jobs, followed by construction laborers with 34,800 and plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters with 27,900. The analysis also projects gains of 17,300 first-line supervisors and 11,200 construction managers in this segment.
Trades Lead the Forecast Growth
The projections point to especially strong demand growth in occupations that install, maintain and coordinate essential building systems. Electricians, HVAC workers and plumbers are among the occupations with the largest projected gains within specialty contracting, a segment expected to supply most of the construction industry’s net employment increase.
For workers, employers and training providers, the forecast offers a long-range indication of where employment may expand. It may inform decisions about recruitment, career preparation and workforce development, but it is not a count of currently vacant positions or a guarantee that every projected job will be filled. The overall industry gain also includes both additions and losses across occupations and employers.
Construction’s projected 5% increase is above the 3.5% growth forecast for total U.S. employment over the same period. That comparison suggests construction is expected to grow faster than the broader labor market, though the figures do not explain what will drive the difference or whether hiring will be steady year to year.
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How the 2035 Estimate Was Made
The figures come from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, as reported in an analysis by the National Association of Home Builders and covered by Hardware Retailing. They compare projected industry employment in 2025 with the level projected for 2035. The reported 410,700-job increase is the net change between those estimates, rounded in the headline to about 400,000.
The figures cover employment across the construction industry and break out selected industry segments and occupations. The occupational numbers in the source refer to projected employment gains within the named segments; they should not be added together as if each were a separate industrywide total. The analysis identifies specialty trade contractors as the largest contributor to net growth, reflecting the range of specialized work carried out across construction projects.
Forecasts Are Not Hiring Guarantees
The figures are projections, not observed future employment. The source material does not provide annual estimates showing whether growth is expected to occur evenly, nor does it give a range of possible outcomes. Actual employment could differ from the forecast as conditions change.
The reported net gain also does not show how many workers employers may need to recruit. It does not specify job openings caused by workers leaving occupations or retiring, or distinguish new positions from replacement hiring. The source material does not detail the assumptions behind the forecast or identify the economic factors that could shift the results.
Track Employment Against the Forecast
The next useful comparison will come from updated employment data and future BLS projections, which can show whether construction’s actual workforce is tracking toward the 2035 estimate. The source report does not announce a separate implementation plan, hiring target or follow-up milestone.
For now, the decade-long estimate serves as a broad outlook for employers, workers and training organizations rather than a near-term measure of hiring needs. Changes in reported employment across construction segments and occupations will help clarify whether the projected gains are materializing and where they are concentrated.
Key Questions
How many construction jobs are projected to be added by 2035?
The forecast estimates a net increase of 410,700 jobs between 2025 and 2035, commonly rounded to about 400,000.
Which construction segment is expected to add the most jobs?
Specialty trade contractors are projected to add 270,600 jobs, the largest segment gain in the NAHB analysis.
Which occupation has the largest projected gain?
Among the specialty trade contractor occupations listed, electricians have the largest projected gain, at 65,700 jobs from 2025 to 2035.
Does the forecast mean 410,700 construction jobs are currently open?
No. It is a projection of net employment growth over a decade, not a count of current vacancies or a measure of all hiring needed to replace workers who leave.
How does construction’s projected growth compare with the overall U.S. workforce?
Construction employment is projected to grow by about 5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with a projected 3.5% increase in total U.S. employment, according to the analysis.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
