5 Best States for Construction Workers

Whether it's potentially hazardous working conditions or long hours, working in the construction industry comes with challenges. However, construction industry workers fare better in some states then they do in others. According to For Construction Pros' analysis of recent data from the Associated Builders and Contractors, some states provide better workforce development, have a higher job growth rate, and have better policies around work. For these reasons, the top states for construction workers are Wisconsin, Arkansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Florida.

Wisconsin has been a high-performing state year after year, but takes the top spot for the highest scores on fair and open competition policies prohibiting government-mandated project labor agreements, ensuring market-driven wages on public works jobs and protecting workers with its right-to-work law; a sustained level of positive job growth in construction, with a five-year job growth rate of 4.4%; a continued commitment to quality career and technical education, delivering a 97.4% graduation rate for students in career technical education programs and a 91.4% rate of postsecondary CTE students placed in careers and/or apprenticeship programs; and a workforce development pipeline that delivers a construction labor supply over 100% of demand amidst a severe nationwide construction labor shortage. Read more