NAICS 23

Construction in Columbia, SC

Metro Market Score 30.8 (Favorable), ranked #44 of 342 metros. 1,934 establishments, 16,559 jobs.

Metro Market Score 30.8

Favorable 0-35

Moderate 35-48

Challenging 48-60

Difficult 60+

Favorable

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

🌱Emerging Market

Columbia ranks in the top quartile for construction market conditions, driven by above-average employment growth. With a market score of 30.8, conditions are relatively favorable compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration

22.2

LQ: 0.80

Rank #76 of 342 metros

Wage Competitiveness

35.1

$69,237 avg wage

Growth Trend

↑ 68.7

Employment growth index

Rank #108 of 342 metros

Wage Pressure

35.4

YoY wage change index

1,934 Construction Firms in Columbia

1,934

Establishments

+5.0% YoY

16,559

Total Employment

+4.2% YoY

$69,237

Average Annual Wage

+5.1% YoY

0.80

Location Quotient

Below national avg

Within South Carolina

#2 of 8

construction metros in state

South Carolina state rank

#30 of 51

for construction entry risk

vs State Median

-19.0

better than median (49.8)

Columbia vs South Carolina Statewide

How this metro's construction market compares to South Carolina overall. The state ranks #30/51 for entry risk.

Measure	Columbia	SC Statewide
Overall Score	30.8 Favorable	47.0 Elevated
Score Type	Metro Market Score	Entry Risk Score
Rank	#44 of 342 metros	#30 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 Columbia

Retail Trade 49.6 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 55.8

Construction in Other South Carolina Metros

Florence 26.4 #23/342 Spartanburg 37.5 #82/342 Greenville-Anderson-Greer 44.2 #139/342 Charleston-North Charleston 49.8 #189/342 Sumter 59.9 #283/342 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach 60.0 #285/342 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal 66.9 #319/342

Construction Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Columbia's 30.8 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Wausau, WI 30.7 #43/342 El Centro, CA 31.0 #45/342 Elmira, NY 31.2 #46/342 Auburn-Opelika, AL 31.5 #47/342 Merced, CA 30.0 #42/342 Ithaca, NY 31.6 #48/342 Chambersburg, PA 31.6 #49/342 Salinas, CA 31.6 #50/342 Iowa City, IA 29.9 #41/342 Greenville, NC 29.9 #40/342

Construction in States Bordering South Carolina

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

North Carolina 38.2 #15/51 Georgia 42.1 #25/51

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 Columbia's construction sector, the employment growth component (31.3) 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 Columbia, SC MSA area.

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.

Metro Market Assessment