NAICS 23

Construction in Lawrence, KS

Metro Market Score 29.3 (Favorable), ranked #34 of 342 metros. 288 establishments, 2,160 jobs.

Metro Market Score 29.3

Favorable 0-35

Moderate 35-48

Challenging 48-60

Difficult 60+

Favorable

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

📈Rapid Growth✓Favorable Market🌱Emerging Market

Employment in Lawrence's construction sector grew faster than most metros last year, pushing its growth trend index to 93.9. Combined with a 29.3 market score, this metro sits in the top 10% for overall conditions.

Industry Concentration

24.3

LQ: 0.81

Rank #83 of 342 metros

Wage Competitiveness

49.1

$72,281 avg wage

Growth Trend

↑ 93.9

Employment growth index

Rank #22 of 342 metros

Wage Pressure

45.4

YoY wage change index

288 Construction Firms in Lawrence

288

Establishments

-2.4% YoY

2,160

Total Employment

+10.8% YoY

$72,281

Average Annual Wage

+9.2% YoY

0.81

Location Quotient

Below national avg

Within Kansas

#1 of 4

construction metros in state

Kansas state rank

#38 of 51

for construction entry risk

vs State Median

-23.3

better than median (52.6)

Lawrence vs Kansas Statewide

How this metro's construction market compares to Kansas overall. The state ranks #38/51 for entry risk.

Measure	Lawrence	KS Statewide
Overall Score	29.3 Favorable	51.5 Elevated
Score Type	Metro Market Score	Entry Risk Score
Rank	#34 of 342 metros	#38 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 Lawrence

Healthcare and Social Assistance 16.1 Finance and Insurance 29.0 Administrative and Support Services 33.7 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 38.3 Retail Trade 42.2 Information 50.1 Accommodation and Food Services 67.6 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 75.6 Other Services 86.2

Construction in Other Kansas Metros

Manhattan 32.4 #55/342 Topeka 52.6 #220/342 Wichita 54.2 #234/342

Construction Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Lawrence's 29.3 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Hattiesburg, MS 29.3 #35/342 Laredo, TX 29.5 #36/342 Muncie, IN 29.5 #37/342 Joplin, MO 29.0 #33/342 Hammond, LA 29.7 #38/342 Altoona, PA 29.8 #39/342 Montgomery, AL 28.7 #32/342 Greenville, NC 29.9 #40/342 Iowa City, IA 29.9 #41/342 Merced, CA 30.0 #42/342

Construction in States Bordering Kansas

State-level entry risk for construction in adjacent states. Use this to weigh cross-border options.

Nebraska 32.5 #5/51 Oklahoma 52.2 #39/51 Colorado 53.2 #40/51 Missouri 54.6 #43/51

Browse Construction in Other States

State-level entry risk reports for construction across all 51 markets, sorted by rank.

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 Lawrence's construction sector, the wage competitiveness component (49.1) 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

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), Bureau of Labor Statistics. MSA-level establishment counts, employment, wages, and location quotients for the Lawrence, KS MSA area.

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.

Metro Market Assessment