NAICS 23

Construction in Washington: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 58.1 (High), ranked #46 of 51 states. 27,578 establishments, 211,938 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 58.1
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
High Risk

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

📈Growth Opportunity

Despite ranking top 5 in growth momentum, Washington presents structural entry friction. Wage pressure (61.3) and an overall risk score of 58.1 indicate that top-line growth may not translate to favorable unit economics for new establishments.

5-Year Firm Retention
7.8%
Percentile within industry
Rank #48 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 55.8
Scale of 0-100
Rank #5 of 51 states
Establishment Density
30.2
vs. national average
Rank #36 of 51 states
Market Volatility
34.2
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
61.3
Labor cost pressure

27,578 Establishments in Washington

27,578
Establishments
+3.8% YoY
211,938
Total Employment
-3.0% YoY
$85,665
Average Annual Wage
+5.9% YoY

Washington vs National Construction Average

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

Metric WA National Difference
Entry Risk Score 58.1 44.2 +13.9
5-Year Retention 7.8% 51.0% -43.2
Growth Momentum 55.8 30.9 +24.9
Market Volatility 34.2 20.9 +13.3
Establishment Density 30.2 24.6 +5.6
Wage Pressure 61.3 57.1 +4.1

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

Washington Ranks #46 of 51 for Construction

Washington ranks #46 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
#46 Washington You 58.1 high
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 Washington stack up against other states for construction?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Construction in Neighboring States

How Washington's construction market compares to bordering states.

Oregon 54.8 #44/51 Idaho 58.4 #48/51

Other Industries in Washington

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 →