NAICS 23

Construction in Fargo, ND

Metro Market Score 54.6 (Challenging), ranked #241 of 342 metros. 1,182 establishments, 10,471 jobs.

Metro Market Score 54.6

Favorable 0-35

Moderate 35-48

Challenging 48-60

Difficult 60+

Challenging

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

Despite a mature construction presence (concentration: 84.8), Fargo is still adding jobs in this sector. Growth trend sits at 69.3, and the overall 54.6 market score lands in the lower half. Established markets with growth are worth a closer look.

Industry Concentration

84.8

LQ: 1.35

Rank #290 of 342 metros

Wage Competitiveness

70.2

$77,239 avg wage

Growth Trend

↑ 69.3

Employment growth index

Rank #106 of 342 metros

Wage Pressure

33.0

YoY wage change index

1,182 Construction Firms in Fargo

1,182

Establishments

+5.2% YoY

10,471

Total Employment

+4.2% YoY

$77,239

Average Annual Wage

+4.1% YoY

1.35

Location Quotient

Above national avg

Within North Dakota

#2 of 2

construction metros in state

North Dakota state rank

#47 of 51

for construction entry risk

vs State Median

0.0

matches median (54.6)

Fargo vs North Dakota Statewide

How this metro's construction market compares to North Dakota overall. The state ranks #47/51 for entry risk.

Measure	Fargo	ND Statewide
Overall Score	54.6 Challenging	58.3 High
Score Type	Metro Market Score	Entry Risk Score
Rank	#241 of 342 metros	#47 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 Fargo

Accommodation and Food Services 35.3 Retail Trade 42.5 Administrative and Support Services 53.6 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 54.2 Healthcare and Social Assistance 59.5 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 64.7 Other Services 67.5 Information 71.5 Finance and Insurance 72.7

Construction in Other North Dakota Metros

Grand Forks 45.5 #151/342

Construction Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Fargo's 54.6 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Toledo, OH 54.5 #240/342 Pittsfield, MA 54.5 #239/342 Glens Falls, NY 54.5 #238/342 Punta Gorda, FL 54.7 #242/342 Reading, PA 54.4 #237/342 Alexandria, LA 54.4 #236/342 Medford, OR 54.8 #243/342 Grand Junction, CO 54.8 #244/342 Charleston, WV 54.2 #235/342 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX 54.9 #245/342

Construction in States Bordering North Dakota

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

South Dakota 34.7 #9/51 Minnesota 37.3 #14/51 Montana 45.0 #28/51

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 Fargo's construction sector, the industry concentration component (84.8) 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 Fargo, ND-MN MSA area.

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.

Metro Market Assessment