NAICS 23

Construction in North Carolina: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 38.2 (Moderate), ranked #15 of 51 states. 36,186 establishments, 272,147 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 38.2
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

🛡️Stable Market💎Hidden Gem

North Carolina exhibits structural stability in construction, with volatility at 20.8 and firm retention ranking in the top half. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
66.7%
Percentile within industry
Rank #18 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
36.5
Scale of 0-100
Rank #17 of 51 states
Establishment Density
27.4
vs. national average
Rank #34 of 51 states
Market Volatility
20.8
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
53.8
Labor cost pressure

36,186 Establishments in North Carolina

36,186
Establishments
-0.1% YoY
272,147
Total Employment
+4.1% YoY
$74,318
Average Annual Wage
+5.3% YoY

North Carolina vs National Construction Average

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

Metric NC National Difference
Entry Risk Score 38.2 44.2 -6.0
5-Year Retention 66.7% 51.0% +15.7
Growth Momentum 36.5 30.9 +5.6
Market Volatility 20.8 20.9 -0.1
Establishment Density 27.4 24.6 +2.8
Wage Pressure 53.8 57.1 -3.4

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

North Carolina Ranks #15 of 51 for Construction

North Carolina ranks #15 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
#15 North Carolina You 38.2 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 North Carolina stack up against other states for construction?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Construction in Neighboring States

How North Carolina's construction market compares to bordering states.

Tennessee 34.8 #10/51 Virginia 39.0 #18/51 Georgia 42.1 #25/51 South Carolina 47.0 #30/51

Other Industries in North Carolina

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 →