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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 increase of 410,700, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections analyzed by the National Association of Home Builders. Specialty trade contractors are expected to account for about 270,600 of those added jobs; the figures are projections, not a count of jobs already created.
U.S. construction employment is projected to increase by 410,700 jobs between 2025 and 2035, reaching about 8.68 million, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections analyzed by the National Association of Home Builders. The forecast points to 5% growth over the decade, faster than the projected 3.5% increase in total U.S. employment, but it describes expected change rather than jobs already added.
The analysis puts construction employment at approximately 8.27 million in 2025 and 8.68 million in 2035. The projected net gain is 410,700 jobs. Those estimates are based on federal occupational and industry projections; actual employment may differ as economic conditions and labor demand change.
Specialty trade contractors are projected to add 270,600 jobs, while residential building construction is expected to add 34,200. Together, the two segments account for about 74% of the projected net increase, according to the NAHB analysis. Specialty contractors perform work such as electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and roofing.
Among specialty contractors, electricians are projected to add 65,700 jobs from 2025 to 2035. Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers are projected to gain 40,900 jobs, followed by construction laborers, at 34,800, and plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, at 27,900. In residential building construction, laborers are projected to add 13,900 jobs and carpenters 8,100.
Trade Contractors Lead Projected Growth
The forecast suggests that much of construction’s expected employment growth will be concentrated in specialized trades, rather than spread evenly across the industry. Electricians, HVAC technicians and plumbing professionals are among the occupations with the largest projected gains. For employers, workers and training providers, that distribution can help identify where hiring needs may be strongest over the coming decade.
The comparison with total U.S. employment also provides a measure of the projection’s scale: construction’s expected 5% increase is above the 3.5% projected for all employment. That does not establish that every construction occupation or region will grow at the same rate, nor does it guarantee employers will be able to fill anticipated openings.
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Where Construction Jobs Are Expected
The figures come from an NAHB analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, as reported by Hardware Retailing. They compare estimated industry employment in 2025 with projected employment in 2035. The stated 410,700 is a projected net increase across the construction industry during that period, not a tally of job openings or a forecast for a single year.
Projected gains also include supervisory and management roles. In specialty trade contracting, first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers are expected to add 17,300 jobs, and construction managers 11,200. Within residential building construction, construction managers are projected to add 5,100 jobs, while project management specialists are expected to gain 1,700.
What the Forecast Cannot Settle
The source material reports projections, not confirmed future hiring. It does not provide a year-by-year path for the expected gains, regional breakdowns, wage estimates, or details about how the projections account for potential economic shifts. It also does not say whether employers will find enough qualified workers to meet demand.
The occupational figures identify expected net employment changes, but do not by themselves explain how many workers may leave jobs, how many openings will arise from replacement needs, or how hiring will vary with construction activity. The estimates should not be read as a guarantee that each listed occupation will add precisely the stated number of jobs.
Employment Trends Through 2035
The projected endpoint is 2035; the source does not identify a separate upcoming decision or release tied to this estimate. Actual employment figures will be measured over time against the projection, while future BLS data and updates can show whether construction hiring is tracking the expected path.
Readers following the forecast can watch for changes in construction employment and hiring across specialty trades, residential building, and management roles. The projections provide a long-range estimate, while realized gains will depend on how employment develops during the decade.
Key Questions
How many construction jobs are projected to be added by 2035?
The NAHB analysis estimates a net increase of 410,700 jobs from 2025 to 2035, taking 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 contractors, electricians are projected to gain 65,700 jobs. HVAC mechanics and installers are projected to add 40,900, and construction laborers 34,800.
Are the 410,700 jobs already being added?
No. The figure is a 2025–2035 projection based on BLS employment estimates analyzed by the NAHB. It is not a count of jobs already created or a guarantee of future hiring.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
