NAICS 23

Construction in Asheville, NC

Metro Market Score 56.7 (Challenging), ranked #263 of 342 metros. 1,796 establishments, 9,786 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 56.7
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

Asheville's construction sector saw employment decline over the past year (growth trend: 4.4). That contraction, combined with a 56.7 market score, puts this metro in the bottom quartile for market conditions. Understand why the local market is shrinking before committing.

Industry Concentration
55.9
LQ: 1.01
Rank #191 of 342 metros
Wage Competitiveness
25.7
$66,554 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 4.4
Employment growth index
Rank #328 of 342 metros
Wage Pressure
38.1
YoY wage change index

1,796 Construction Firms in Asheville

1,796
Establishments
-11.5% YoY
9,786
Total Employment
-7.5% YoY
$66,554
Average Annual Wage
+6.2% YoY
1.01
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Asheville vs North Carolina Statewide

How this metro's construction market compares to North Carolina overall. The state ranks #15/51 for entry risk.

Measure Asheville NC Statewide
Overall Score 56.7 Challenging 38.2 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #263 of 342 metros #15 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 Asheville

Finance and Insurance 59.2 Information 64.8 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 65.0 Retail Trade 72.8 Other Services 75.1 Accommodation and Food Services 85.4

Construction in Other North Carolina Metros

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton 19.7 #10/342 Greenville 29.9 #40/342 Durham-Chapel Hill 31.9 #52/342 Winston-Salem 35.4 #67/342 Wilmington 35.6 #68/342 Goldsboro 36.6 #73/342 Jacksonville 37.8 #83/342 Pinehurst-Southern Pines 39.4 #102/342 Greensboro-High Point 43.0 #128/342 Rocky Mount 43.5 #134/342

+ 3 more metros. View all in North Carolina →

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 Asheville's construction sector, the employment growth component (95.6) 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.