Construction worker demographics and statistics in the US
Construction worker demographics research summary. Zippia estimates construction worker demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our construction worker estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about construction workers after extensive research and analysis:
- 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 construction worker age 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 2022, 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.
On this page
Construction worker demographics by:
Construction worker gender statistics
6.2% of construction workers are women and 93.8% of construction workers are men.
- Male, 93.8%
- Female, 6.2%
Construction worker gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 93.8% |
| Female | 6.2% |
Construction worker gender pay gap
Women earn 94¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$32,234
Female income
$30,204
Construction worker gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in construction worker positions over time. Currently, 6.2% of construction workers are female.
Construction worker gender ratio 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 related jobs gender ratio
We compared construction workers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, water softener installer and insulation worker have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| 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% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Construction worker demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among construction workers is White, which makes up 52.9% of all construction workers. Comparatively, 27.7% of construction workers are Hispanic or Latino and 11.1% of construction workers are Black or African American.
- 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
See how construction worker racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Construction worker race and ethnicity 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
According to our data, unknown construction workers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american construction workers have the lowest average salary at $30,770.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $33,091 |
| White | $33,089 |
| Black or African American | $30,770 |
| Asian | $32,504 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $31,774 |
Average construction worker age
See how the average age of construction workers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Construction worker age by race and gender
| 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
The average age of construction workers is 40+ years years old, representing 47% of the construction worker population.
Construction worker age breakdown
| Construction Worker Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 47% |
| 30-40 years | 26% |
| 20-30 years | 25% |
Construction worker educational attainment
The most common degree for construction workers is high school diploma, with 51% of construction workers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 19% and bachelor's degree degree at 13%.
- High School Diploma, 51%
- Bachelor's, 19%
- Associate, 13%
- Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Construction workers by degree level
| Construction worker degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma | 51% |
| Bachelor's | 19% |
| Associate | 13% |
| Diploma | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Construction worker jobs you might like
Construction worker wage gap by degree level
According to the data, construction workers with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $33,976 annually. With a Associate degree, construction workers earn a median annual income of $33,668 compared to $32,191 for construction workers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $32,191 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $33,976 |
| No Education | $30,457 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $33,668 |
Construction worker employment statistics
Most construction workers work for a private in the construction industry.
Company size where construction workers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where construction workers work.
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% |
Construction worker jobs by company type
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% |
Construction worker jobs by industry
The most common industries for construction workers are 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 unemployment rate for construction workers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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% |
Average construction worker tenure
The average construction worker stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 43,804 construction workers resumes in Zippia's database.
Construction worker tenure statistics
| Number of 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% |
Construction worker LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of construction workers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| 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 |
Similar construction worker jobs 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% |
