Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for construction workers in the United States. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- There are over 767,992 construction workers currently employed in the United States.
- 6.2% of all construction workers are women, while 93.8% are men.
- The average age of an employed construction worker is 38 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of construction workers is White (52.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (27.7%), Black or African American (11.1%) and Unknown (4.0%).
- In 2021, women earned 94% of what men earned.
- 2% of all construction workers are LGBT.
- Construction workers are 89% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
Construction Worker Statistics By Gender
6.2% of construction workers are women and 93.8% of construction workers are men.
- Male, 93.8%
- Female, 6.2%
Construction Workers By Gender
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 93.8% |
| Female | 6.2% |
Gender Pay Gap For Construction Worker
Women Earn 94ยข For Every $1 Earned By Men
Construction Worker Gender Over Time
This data shows how men and women predominate in the construction worker position over time.
Construction Worker Gender By Year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 95.55% | 4.45% |
| 2011 | 95.51% | 4.49% |
| 2012 | 95.60% | 4.40% |
| 2013 | 95.57% | 4.43% |
| 2014 | 95.58% | 4.42% |
| 2015 | 95.45% | 4.55% |
| 2016 | 95.21% | 4.79% |
| 2017 | 94.94% | 5.06% |
| 2018 | 94.41% | 5.59% |
| 2019 | 93.97% | 6.03% |
| 2020 | 94.17% | 5.83% |
| 2021 | 93.79% | 6.21% |
Construction Worker Male to Female Ratio
We compared this job title with other job titles to see how gender percentages varied. As you can see, water softener installer and insulation worker have the biggest difference in gender.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Composition Floor Setter | 34% | 66% |
| Construction Worker | 94% | 6% |
| Gas Fitter | 97% | 3% |
| Insulation Worker | 97% | 2% |
| Water Softener Installer | 97% | 3% |
Construction Worker Statistics By Race
The most common ethnicity among construction workers is White, which makes up 52.9% of all construction workers. Comparatively, there are 27.7% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 11.1% of the Black or African American ethnicity.
- White, 52.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 27.7%
- Black or African American, 11.1%
- Unknown, 4.0%
- Asian, 2.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%
Construction Worker Race
| Construction Worker Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 52.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 27.7% |
| Black or African American | 11.1% |
| Unknown | 4.0% |
| Asian | 2.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.5% |
Construction Worker Race And Ethnicity Over Time
Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among construction workers.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Construction Worker Race By Year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 63.15% | 11.62% | 2.29% | 20.15% |
| 2011 | 62.53% | 12.84% | 2.24% | 19.10% |
| 2012 | 62.36% | 12.28% | 2.37% | 19.18% |
| 2013 | 63.01% | 11.88% | 2.24% | 19.58% |
| 2014 | 62.12% | 11.69% | 2.46% | 20.42% |
| 2015 | 60.46% | 11.38% | 2.47% | 22.45% |
| 2016 | 60.10% | 11.15% | 2.63% | 22.78% |
| 2017 | 59.80% | 11.25% | 2.61% | 23.11% |
| 2018 | 60.58% | 10.67% | 2.69% | 22.53% |
| 2019 | 58.73% | 10.71% | 2.73% | 24.48% |
| 2020 | 56.32% | 11.90% | 2.74% | 23.81% |
| 2021 | 52.95% | 11.08% | 2.82% | 27.69% |
Construction Worker Wage Gap By Race
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $33,091 |
| White | $33,089 |
| Black or African American | $30,770 |
| Asian | $32,504 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $31,774 |
Average Age of a Construction Worker
We determined the average age of construction workers based on ethnicity and gender.
Construction Worker Age By Race
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 41 | 46 |
| Unknown | 35 | 43.5 |
| Asian | 39 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39 | 40 |
| White | 38 | 39 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 42 |
Construction Worker Age Breakdown
This chart breaks down the ages of construction worker employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of construction workers is 40+ years old, which represents 47% of the population.
Construction Worker Age
| Construction Worker Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 47% |
| 30-40 years | 26% |
| 20-30 years | 25% |
Types of Construction Worker Degree Levels
The most common degree for construction workers is high school diploma 51% of construction workers earn that degree. A close second is bachelor's degree with 19% and rounding it off is associate degree with 13%.
- High School Diploma, 51%
- Bachelors, 19%
- Associate, 13%
- Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Construction Workers By Education
| Construction Worker Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 51% |
| Bachelors | 19% |
| Associate | 13% |
| Diploma | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Construction Worker Jobs You Might Like
Construction Worker Wage Gap By Education
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $32,191 |
| No Education | $30,457 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $33,976 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $33,668 |
Construction Worker Employment Statistics
This section highlights information about where construction workers work. We found most construction workers work for a private company. In addition, the industry that employs the most construction workers is the construction industry.
Company Size
We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire construction workers.
Construction Worker Jobs By Employer Size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 8% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 25% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 23% |
| > 10,000 employees | 7% |
The Types Of Companies Construction Worker Work In
Employees with the construction worker job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most construction workers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Construction Worker Jobs By Sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 1% |
| Public | 7% |
| Private | 89% |
| Government | 3% |
Top Industries Hiring Construction Workers
Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ construction workers. Those industries include construction, professional and manufacturing.
Construction Worker Industry Statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Construction | 44% |
| Professional | 17% |
| Manufacturing | 7% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Government | 3% |
| Media | 3% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Fortune 500 | 3% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Technology | 3% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Education | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Health Care | 1% |
Construction Worker Turnover And Employment Statistics
Construction Worker Unemployment Rate Over Time
The Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of construction workers changed.
- Unemployment rate
Construction Worker Unemployment Rate By Year
| Year | Construction Worker Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 23.53% |
| 2011 | 21.66% |
| 2012 | 18.27% |
| 2013 | 15.84% |
| 2014 | 13.34% |
| 2015 | 11.55% |
| 2016 | 10.81% |
| 2017 | 9.34% |
| 2018 | 8.78% |
| 2019 | 7.68% |
| 2020 | 11.20% |
| 2021 | 10.19% |
The Average Number of Years That Construction Worker Stay in a Job
By looking over 43,804 construction workers resumes, we figured out that the average construction worker enjoys staying at their job for Less than 1 year for a percentage of 33%.
Construction Worker Tenure
| Number or Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 33% |
| 1-2 years | 30% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 7% |
Comparing The LGBT Ratio of Construction Workers with Other Job Titles
After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to construction workers.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Acid Tank Liner | 1.40% | 4,324 |
| Gravel Roofer | 1.43% | 1,225 |
| Drywall Hanger, Framer | 1.75% | 614 |
| Construction Worker | 2.24% | - |
| Apprentice To Journeyman | 2.76% | 19,776 |
| Tile Applicator | 3.39% | 3,085 |
| Metal Ceiling Hanger | 4.07% | 2,825 |
Construction Worker LGBT Demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Acid Tank Liner | 1.40% | 4,324 |
| Gravel Roofer | 1.43% | 1,225 |
| Drywall Hanger, Framer | 1.75% | 614 |
| Apprentice To Journeyman | 2.76% | 19,776 |
| Tile Applicator | 3.39% | 3,085 |
| Metal Ceiling Hanger | 4.07% | 2,825 |
Foreign Languages Spoken By Construction Workers
The most common foreign language among construction workers is Spanish at 75.2%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 4.6% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 2.9%.
- Spanish, 75.2%
- French, 4.6%
- Portuguese, 2.9%
- German, 2.4%
- Polish, 2.3%
- Other, 12.6%
Construction Worker Languages Spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 75.2% |
| French | 4.6% |
| Portuguese | 2.9% |
| German | 2.4% |
| Polish | 2.3% |
| Other | 12.6% |
