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Construction in Utah: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 40.1 (Moderate), ranked #22 of 51 states. 15,610 establishments, 138,261 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 40.1
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

📈Growth Opportunity

Utah ranks top 5 in growth momentum while maintaining relatively low market saturation (bottom 10). This combination signals an underpenetrated market with expanding demand.

5-Year Firm Retention
58.8%
Percentile within industry
Rank #22 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 70.6
Scale of 0-100
Rank #3 of 51 states
Establishment Density
51.2
vs. national average
Rank #46 of 51 states
Market Volatility
26.7
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
57.5
Labor cost pressure

15,610 Establishments in Utah

15,610
Establishments
+2.3% YoY
138,261
Total Employment
+3.0% YoY
$70,203
Average Annual Wage
+5.6% YoY

Utah vs National Construction Average

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

Metric UT National Difference
Entry Risk Score 40.1 44.2 -4.1
5-Year Retention 58.8% 51.0% +7.8
Growth Momentum 70.6 30.9 +39.7
Market Volatility 26.7 20.9 +5.8
Establishment Density 51.2 24.6 +26.6
Wage Pressure 57.5 57.1 +0.4

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

Utah Ranks #22 of 51 for Construction

Utah ranks #22 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
#22 Utah You 40.1 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 Utah stack up against other states for construction?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Construction in Neighboring States

How Utah's construction market compares to bordering states.

Arizona 38.6 #16/51 Nevada 39.8 #20/51 New Mexico 47.4 #31/51 Colorado 53.2 #40/51 Idaho 58.4 #48/51 Wyoming 59.3 #49/51

Other Industries in Utah

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 →