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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 the largest share of the increase, led by electricians, HVAC mechanics and installers, and plumbers.
U.S. construction employment is projected to grow by 410,700 jobs 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 estimated 5% increase is faster than the projected 3.5% growth in total U.S. employment over the same period.
The projected net increase 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 approximately 74% of construction’s projected employment gain, according to the NAHB analysis. Specialty trade contractors include businesses working in fields such as electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and roofing.
Within specialty trades, electricians are projected to record the largest occupational gain, with 65,700 additional jobs from 2025 to 2035. 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.
Residential building construction is projected to add 13,900 construction laborer jobs and 8,100 carpenter jobs. The analysis also projects gains for construction managers—5,100 in residential building construction—and for first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers, with 2,800 additional residential jobs. These are estimates of net employment change, not a count of guaranteed openings or hires.
Where Construction Jobs May Grow
The projections point to particularly strong employment growth in specialty trade work, rather than an even increase across every construction activity. That matters to employers, workers and training providers weighing where labor demand may rise over the coming decade. The largest occupational increases in the analysis are tied to electrical, HVAC and plumbing work, alongside construction labor.
The industry’s projected 5% growth also outpaces the 3.5% forecast for total U.S. employment. That comparison indicates construction employment is expected to grow faster than employment overall, but it does not show whether employers will be able to fill jobs, how wages may change, or how demand will vary by location.
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The Ten-Year Employment Forecast
The figures are projections for 2025 to 2035, drawn from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment estimates and presented in an analysis by the NAHB. The report compares the projected change in construction employment with the expected change across the broader U.S. workforce, and breaks the construction estimate down by industry segment and occupation.
The headline figure is a net increase of 410,700 jobs—the difference between projected employment levels at the start and end of the period. The supplied analysis provides estimates for selected segments and occupations, including specialty trades and residential building construction. It does not provide a full explanation of the assumptions behind each projection or a year-by-year hiring path.
Limits of the Job Projections
The figures describe projected employment levels, not confirmed future hiring. The source material does not state how many openings will arise from workers leaving the industry, how many positions employers may struggle to fill, or how the estimates could change if economic conditions shift. It also does not give regional projections or a detailed annual breakdown.
The analysis reports the BLS projections but does not include a direct quotation from the bureau or NAHB explaining the forecast’s assumptions. The estimates therefore should not be read as a promise that all projected positions will be created or filled by 2035.
Tracking Demand Through 2035
The projections set out an expected direction for construction employment through 2035; they do not specify a next hiring milestone. Actual employment can be compared with the forecast as new labor-market data are released. Readers should watch for updated BLS estimates and further NAHB analysis to see whether the projected gains—especially in specialty trades—remain on track.
Key Questions
How many construction jobs are projected to be added by 2035?
Employment is projected to rise by 410,700 jobs, from approximately 8.27 million in 2025 to 8.68 million in 2035.
Which construction segment is projected to add the most jobs?
Specialty trade contractors are projected to add 270,600 jobs, the largest increase among the segments identified in the NAHB analysis.
Which occupations have the largest projected gains?
Among specialty trades, electricians are projected to add 65,700 jobs, followed by HVAC mechanics and installers with 40,900. Across the occupations listed, construction laborers are also projected to gain jobs in both specialty trades and residential building construction.
Are the projected jobs guaranteed?
No. The figures are employment projections based on BLS estimates, not confirmed future hires. Actual job growth may differ from the forecast.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
