NAICS 23

Construction in Arkansas: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 34.3 (Moderate), ranked #8 of 51 states. 8,276 establishments, 66,880 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 34.3
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

🛡️Stable Market

Arkansas exhibits structural stability in construction, with volatility at 7.0 and firm retention ranking in the top half. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
70.6%
Percentile within industry
Rank #16 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
31.2
Scale of 0-100
Rank #23 of 51 states
Establishment Density
14.2
vs. national average
Rank #27 of 51 states
Market Volatility
7.0
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
60.0
Labor cost pressure

8,276 Establishments in Arkansas

8,276
Establishments
+2.0% YoY
66,880
Total Employment
+5.6% YoY
$65,877
Average Annual Wage
+5.8% YoY

Arkansas vs National Construction Average

How Arkansas's construction market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric AR National Difference
Entry Risk Score 34.3 44.2 -9.9
5-Year Retention 70.6% 51.0% +19.6
Growth Momentum 31.2 30.9 +0.3
Market Volatility 7.0 20.9 -13.9
Establishment Density 14.2 24.6 -10.4
Wage Pressure 60.0 57.1 +2.9

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within construction only.

Arkansas Ranks #8 of 51 for Construction

Arkansas ranks #8 out of 51 states for construction market entry conditions.

Construction Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Wisconsin 25.1 low
#2 Michigan 28.0 low
#3 Pennsylvania 28.4 low
#4 Alabama 30.3 moderate
#5 Nebraska 32.5 moderate
#8 Arkansas You 34.3 moderate
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 60.9 · #50 Alabama — 30.3 · #4 Arkansas — 34.3 · #8 Arizona — 38.6 · #16 California — 47.8 · #32 Colorado — 53.2 · #40 Connecticut — 43.2 · #27 District of Columbia — 56.9 · #45 Delaware — 43.0 · #26 Florida — 54.5 · #42 Georgia — 42.1 · #25 Hawaii — 61.1 · #51 Iowa — 34.3 · #7 Idaho — 58.4 · #48 Illinois — 49.1 · #34 Indiana — 35.0 · #11 Kansas — 51.5 · #38 Kentucky — 39.8 · #19 Louisiana — 53.6 · #41 Massachusetts — 41.5 · #23 Maryland — 35.0 · #12 Maine — 35.5 · #13 Michigan — 28.0 · #2 Minnesota — 37.3 · #14 Missouri — 54.6 · #43 Mississippi — 50.8 · #36 Montana — 45.0 · #28 North Carolina — 38.2 · #15 North Dakota — 58.3 · #47 Nebraska — 32.5 · #5 New Hampshire — 32.6 · #6 New Jersey — 48.3 · #33 New Mexico — 47.4 · #31 Nevada — 39.8 · #20 New York — 51.1 · #37 Ohio — 41.7 · #24 Oklahoma — 52.2 · #39 Oregon — 54.8 · #44 Pennsylvania — 28.4 · #3 Rhode Island — 38.8 · #17 South Carolina — 47.0 · #30 South Dakota — 34.7 · #9 Tennessee — 34.8 · #10 Texas — 46.3 · #29 Utah — 40.1 · #22 Virginia — 39.0 · #18 Vermont — 40.0 · #21 Washington — 58.1 · #46 Wisconsin — 25.1 · #1 West Virginia — 49.5 · #35 Wyoming — 59.3 · #49
Low Moderate Elevated High

Tap a state to view details

About Entry Risk Score: A weighted composite of firm retention, growth momentum, market volatility, establishment density, and wage pressure. Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: February 2026. Next refresh expected: Q2 2026 (BLS QCEW update).

Compare to Another State

How does Arkansas stack up against other states for construction?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Construction in Neighboring States

How Arkansas's construction market compares to bordering states.

Tennessee 34.8 #10/51 Texas 46.3 #29/51 Mississippi 50.8 #36/51 Oklahoma 52.2 #39/51 Louisiana 53.6 #41/51 Missouri 54.6 #43/51

Other Industries in Arkansas

Healthcare and Social Assistance → Retail Trade → Accommodation and Food Services → Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services → Finance and Insurance → Real Estate and Rental and Leasing → Administrative and Support Services → Information → Other Services →