NAICS 23

Construction in Dubuque, IA

Metro Market Score 52.1 (Challenging), ranked #215 of 342 metros. 322 establishments, 2,704 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 52.1
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

At #215 of 342 metros, Dubuque's construction sector scores 52.1 on the market index. Concentration (35.4), wage levels (56.4), and growth (25.7) all track close to the median. Local factors like lease costs and client access will matter more than macro signals.

Industry Concentration
35.4
LQ: 0.88
Rank #121 of 342 metros
Wage Competitiveness
56.4
$73,680 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 25.7
Employment growth index
Rank #255 of 342 metros
Wage Pressure
34.2
YoY wage change index

322 Construction Firms in Dubuque

322
Establishments
-1.8% YoY
2,704
Total Employment
-0.7% YoY
$73,680
Average Annual Wage
+4.6% YoY
0.88
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Dubuque vs Iowa Statewide

How this metro's construction market compares to Iowa overall. The state ranks #7/51 for entry risk.

Measure Dubuque IA Statewide
Overall Score 52.1 Challenging 34.3 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #215 of 342 metros #7 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 Dubuque

Accommodation and Food Services 24.7 Retail Trade 34.4 Other Services 36.9 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 41.3 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 45.0 Healthcare and Social Assistance 47.7 Administrative and Support Services 48.2 Information 58.5 Finance and Insurance 60.1

Construction in Other Iowa Metros

Ames 25.8 #20/342 Iowa City 29.9 #41/342 Waterloo-Cedar Falls 37.4 #81/342 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island 48.8 #178/342 Cedar Rapids 49.8 #190/342 Des Moines-West Des Moines 52.9 #225/342 Sioux City 63.4 #302/342

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 Dubuque's construction sector, the employment growth component (74.3) 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.