NAICS 23

Construction in Pennsylvania: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 28.4 (Low), ranked #3 of 51 states. 30,625 establishments, 260,266 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 28.4
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Low Risk

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

🛡️Stable Market

Pennsylvania exhibits structural stability in construction, with volatility at 2.2 and firm retention ranking in the top 10. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
84.3%
Percentile within industry
Rank #9 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
8.8
Scale of 0-100
Rank #45 of 51 states
Establishment Density
7.1
vs. national average
Rank #7 of 51 states
Market Volatility
2.2
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
43.8
Labor cost pressure

30,625 Establishments in Pennsylvania

30,625
Establishments
+0.1% YoY
260,266
Total Employment
-0.1% YoY
$82,174
Average Annual Wage
+4.5% YoY

Pennsylvania vs National Construction Average

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

Metric PA National Difference
Entry Risk Score 28.4 44.2 -15.8
5-Year Retention 84.3% 51.0% +33.3
Growth Momentum 8.8 30.9 -22.1
Market Volatility 2.2 20.9 -18.7
Establishment Density 7.1 24.6 -17.5
Wage Pressure 43.8 57.1 -13.4

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

Pennsylvania Ranks #3 of 51 for Construction

Pennsylvania ranks #3 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 You 28.4 low
#4 Alabama 30.3 moderate
#5 Nebraska 32.5 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 Pennsylvania stack up against other states for construction?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Construction in Neighboring States

How Pennsylvania's construction market compares to bordering states.

Maryland 35.0 #12/51 Ohio 41.7 #24/51 Delaware 43.0 #26/51 New Jersey 48.3 #33/51 West Virginia 49.5 #35/51 New York 51.1 #37/51

Other Industries in Pennsylvania

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 →