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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 NAHB. Specialty trade contractors are forecast to account for 270,600 of those jobs; the figures are projections, not a guarantee of future hiring.
U.S. construction employment is projected to increase by 410,700 jobs, or about 5%, from 2025 to 2035, reaching approximately 8.68 million jobs, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections analyzed by the National Association of Home Builders. The forecast points to faster growth than the projected 3.5% increase in total U.S. employment over the same period, with specialty trade contractors accounting for most of construction’s expected net gains.
The overall projection rises from approximately 8.27 million construction jobs in 2025 to 8.68 million in 2035. The underlying figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; NAHB analyzed the occupational and industry estimates, according to a report published by Hardware Retailing. The numbers describe projected employment levels, not job openings or guaranteed hires.
Among construction segments, specialty trade contractors are projected to add 270,600 jobs, while residential building construction is projected to add 34,200. Together, those two segments account for about 74% of the industry’s net employment gain. Specialty contractors include businesses working in areas such as electrical systems, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and roofing.
Within specialty trade contracting, electricians are forecast to have the largest listed increase, with 65,700 additional jobs between 2025 and 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. In residential building construction, projected gains include 13,900 construction laborers, 8,100 carpenters and 5,100 construction managers.
Trades Drive Most Forecast Growth
The forecast indicates that employment growth is expected to be concentrated in specialized trades, rather than spread evenly across construction. The projected gains for electricians, HVAC technicians and plumbing workers reflect the scale of those occupations in specialty contracting, though the projections do not explain how much growth will come from new construction, renovations, replacement work or other sources.
For workers, employers and training providers, the estimates offer a long-range signal about where demand could rise. They may help inform decisions about recruitment, apprenticeships and workforce preparation. But a projected increase across an industry does not mean every trade, region or employer will experience the same conditions, and the figures do not specify wages, hiring schedules or local labor shortages.
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A Decade-Long Labor Forecast
The figures cover a 10-year projection period from 2025 to 2035 and compare construction’s expected employment growth with the projected change in total U.S. employment. The 410,700 figure is a net increase in employment across the industry over that period; it is not a count of vacancies, annual hires or newly created positions in a single year.
The occupational breakdown shows growth in both on-site work and supervision. Alongside laborers and carpenters, residential building construction is projected to add 2,800 first-line supervisors and 1,700 project management specialists. Among specialty trade contractors, the forecast includes 17,300 additional first-line supervisors and 11,200 construction managers. These estimates are part of the BLS projections as presented in NAHB’s analysis.
Projections Are Not Hiring Guarantees
The source material provides projections, not confirmed future outcomes. It does not detail the assumptions behind the estimates, show how the expected gains might vary by state or metropolitan area, or provide a year-by-year path from 2025 through 2035. It also does not say how many workers will be needed to replace people leaving the industry, separate replacement openings from net employment growth, or specify expected pay and working conditions.
The reported segment figures also do not explain the full distribution of the remaining projected gains beyond the two sectors highlighted. Actual employment may differ as economic conditions, construction activity, technology, policy and workforce availability change. The available report does not provide updates on those factors or a separate forecast for any individual occupation beyond the listed estimates.
Track Hiring Against the Forecast
The projection sets a benchmark for comparing future employment with the expected 2025-to-2035 trend. Readers seeking a current picture of hiring will need to look to subsequent BLS employment data, rather than treating the decade forecast as a report of jobs already added. NAHB’s analysis also identifies trades and management roles to watch as new data become available.
No specific follow-up report or interim milestone is identified in the source material. The key measure will be whether employment in construction and its specialty segments develops in line with the projected gains, and whether the occupational mix matches the estimates over time.
Key Questions
How many construction jobs are projected to be added by 2035?
The forecast projects a net increase of 410,700 jobs between 2025 and 2035, raising construction employment from about 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 increase among the segments identified in the report.
Which occupations have the largest projected gains?
Among specialty trade contractors, electricians are forecast to add 65,700 jobs. HVAC mechanics and installers are projected to add 40,900, followed by construction laborers at 34,800.
Are these jobs already confirmed or guaranteed?
No. These are BLS employment projections analyzed by NAHB. They estimate future employment and do not guarantee that the jobs will be created or identify actual vacancies.
How does projected construction growth compare with total U.S. employment?
Construction employment is projected to increase by about 5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with a projected 3.5% increase in total U.S. employment over the same period.
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