NAICS 23

Construction in Illinois: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 49.1 (Elevated), ranked #34 of 51 states. 32,693 establishments, 236,852 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 49.1
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

⛔High Barrier to Entry

The construction sector in Illinois is tracking close to the U.S. baseline, with no extreme signals in volatility, saturation, or wage pressure. Entry conditions are within the national median range.

5-Year Firm Retention
35.3%
Percentile within industry
Rank #34 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
16.9
Scale of 0-100
Rank #36 of 51 states
Establishment Density
10.7
vs. national average
Rank #13 of 51 states
Market Volatility
14.8
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
62.5
Labor cost pressure

32,693 Establishments in Illinois

32,693
Establishments
-0.4% YoY
236,852
Total Employment
+0.4% YoY
$90,842
Average Annual Wage
+6.0% YoY

Illinois vs National Construction Average

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

Metric IL National Difference
Entry Risk Score 49.1 44.2 +4.9
5-Year Retention 35.3% 51.0% -15.7
Growth Momentum 16.9 30.9 -14.0
Market Volatility 14.8 20.9 -6.1
Establishment Density 10.7 24.6 -14.0
Wage Pressure 62.5 57.1 +5.4

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

Illinois Ranks #34 of 51 for Construction

Illinois ranks #34 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
#34 Illinois You 49.1 elevated
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 Illinois stack up against other states for construction?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Construction in Neighboring States

How Illinois's construction market compares to bordering states.

Wisconsin 25.1 #1/51 Iowa 34.3 #7/51 Indiana 35.0 #11/51 Kentucky 39.8 #19/51 Missouri 54.6 #43/51

Other Industries in Illinois

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 →