NAICS 23

Construction in Ohio: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 41.7 (Moderate), ranked #24 of 51 states. 26,050 establishments, 249,045 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 41.7
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

⛔High Barrier to Entry🛡️Stable Market

Ohio exhibits structural stability in construction, with volatility at 14.6 and firm retention ranking in the top 15. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
72.5%
Percentile within industry
Rank #15 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
12.8
Scale of 0-100
Rank #43 of 51 states
Establishment Density
4.4
vs. national average
Rank #4 of 51 states
Market Volatility
14.6
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
81.3
Labor cost pressure

26,050 Establishments in Ohio

26,050
Establishments
+1.9% YoY
249,045
Total Employment
+4.6% YoY
$79,720
Average Annual Wage
+7.5% YoY

Ohio vs National Construction Average

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

Metric OH National Difference
Entry Risk Score 41.7 44.2 -2.5
5-Year Retention 72.5% 51.0% +21.5
Growth Momentum 12.8 30.9 -18.1
Market Volatility 14.6 20.9 -6.3
Establishment Density 4.4 24.6 -20.2
Wage Pressure 81.3 57.1 +24.1

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

Ohio Ranks #24 of 51 for Construction

Ohio ranks #24 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
#24 Ohio You 41.7 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 Ohio stack up against other states for construction?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Construction in Neighboring States

How Ohio's construction market compares to bordering states.

Michigan 28.0 #2/51 Pennsylvania 28.4 #3/51 Indiana 35.0 #11/51 Kentucky 39.8 #19/51 West Virginia 49.5 #35/51

Other Industries in Ohio

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 →