NAICS 23

Construction in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Metro Market Score 47.5 (Moderate), ranked #168 of 342 metros. 944 establishments, 5,037 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 47.5
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

At #168 of 342 metros, Santa Cruz-Watsonville's construction sector scores 47.5 on the market index. Concentration (42.4), wage levels (55.3), and growth (40.4) all track close to the median. Local factors like lease costs and client access will matter more than macro signals.

Industry Concentration
42.4
LQ: 0.92
Rank #145 of 342 metros
Wage Competitiveness
55.3
$73,463 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 40.4
Employment growth index
Rank #205 of 342 metros
Wage Pressure
25.7
YoY wage change index

944 Construction Firms in Santa Cruz-Watsonville

944
Establishments
+0.4% YoY
5,037
Total Employment
+0.5% YoY
$73,463
Average Annual Wage
+1.1% YoY
0.92
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Santa Cruz-Watsonville vs California Statewide

How this metro's construction market compares to California overall. The state ranks #32/51 for entry risk.

Measure Santa Cruz-Watsonville CA Statewide
Overall Score 47.5 Moderate 47.8 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #168 of 342 metros #32 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville

Information 31.9 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 44.3 Healthcare and Social Assistance 49.2 Administrative and Support Services 54.0 Finance and Insurance 61.0 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 62.6 Retail Trade 64.7 Other Services 78.6 Accommodation and Food Services 83.7

Construction in Other California Metros

Merced 30.0 #42/342 El Centro 31.0 #45/342 Salinas 31.6 #50/342 Fresno 37.4 #80/342 Visalia 38.9 #96/342 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara 39.1 #97/342 Hanford-Corcoran 39.7 #106/342 Stockton-Lodi 46.4 #161/342 Modesto 48.2 #174/342 Redding 50.9 #205/342

+ 14 more metros. View all in California →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Santa Cruz-Watsonville's construction sector, the employment growth component (59.6) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.