NAICS 23

Construction in Mississippi: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 50.8 (Elevated), ranked #36 of 51 states. 6,876 establishments, 50,576 jobs.

Best construction metro in Mississippi
Jackson 25.1 #18/342 nationwide · 1,348 firms

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 50.8
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

⛔High Barrier to Entry

Labor cost dynamics in Mississippi construction are elevated, with wage pressure at 76.3. This contributes to the state's overall entry risk ranking of #36 out of 51.

5-Year Firm Retention
37.3%
Percentile within industry
Rank #33 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
8.2
Scale of 0-100
Rank #47 of 51 states
Establishment Density
6.5
vs. national average
Rank #5 of 51 states
Market Volatility
9.2
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
76.3
Labor cost pressure

6,876 Establishments in Mississippi

6,876
Establishments
+3.7% YoY
50,576
Total Employment
+4.3% YoY
$67,288
Average Annual Wage
+7.1% YoY

Construction in Mississippi Metro Areas

3 metro areas with construction data in Mississippi. Lower Metro Market Score = more favorable conditions.

Jackson 25.1 #18/342 · 1,348 firms Hattiesburg 29.3 #35/342 · 286 firms Gulfport-Biloxi 34.6 #63/342 · 818 firms

Mississippi vs National Construction Average

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

Metric MS National Difference
Entry Risk Score 50.8 44.2 +6.6
5-Year Retention 37.3% 51.0% -13.8
Growth Momentum 8.2 30.9 -22.7
Market Volatility 9.2 20.9 -11.7
Establishment Density 6.5 24.6 -18.2
Wage Pressure 76.3 57.1 +19.1

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

Mississippi Ranks #36 of 51 for Construction

Mississippi ranks #36 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
#36 Mississippi You 50.8 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

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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 Mississippi stack up against other states for construction?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Construction in Neighboring States

How Mississippi's construction market compares to bordering states.

Alabama 30.3 #4/51 Arkansas 34.3 #8/51 Tennessee 34.8 #10/51 Louisiana 53.6 #41/51

Other Industries in Mississippi

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 →