NAICS 23

Construction in Iowa: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 34.3 (Moderate), ranked #7 of 51 states. 9,524 establishments, 84,842 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

Iowa exhibits structural stability in construction, with volatility at 13.9 and firm retention ranking in the top 10. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
82.3%
Percentile within industry
Rank #10 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
7.2
Scale of 0-100
Rank #48 of 51 states
Establishment Density
18.6
vs. national average
Rank #29 of 51 states
Market Volatility
13.9
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
48.8
Labor cost pressure

9,524 Establishments in Iowa

9,524
Establishments
-1.1% YoY
84,842
Total Employment
+1.5% YoY
$73,507
Average Annual Wage
+4.9% YoY

Iowa vs National Construction Average

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

Metric IA National Difference
Entry Risk Score 34.3 44.2 -9.9
5-Year Retention 82.3% 51.0% +31.3
Growth Momentum 7.2 30.9 -23.7
Market Volatility 13.9 20.9 -7.0
Establishment Density 18.6 24.6 -6.0
Wage Pressure 48.8 57.1 -8.4

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

Iowa Ranks #7 of 51 for Construction

Iowa ranks #7 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
#7 Iowa 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 Iowa stack up against other states for construction?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Construction in Neighboring States

How Iowa's construction market compares to bordering states.

Wisconsin 25.1 #1/51 Nebraska 32.5 #5/51 South Dakota 34.7 #9/51 Minnesota 37.3 #14/51 Illinois 49.1 #34/51 Missouri 54.6 #43/51

Other Industries in Iowa

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 →