NAICS 23

Construction in Wisconsin: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 25.1 (Low), ranked #1 of 51 states. 15,864 establishments, 140,998 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 25.1
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Low Risk

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national construction average.

🛡️Stable Market

Wisconsin exhibits structural stability in construction, with volatility at 7.9 and firm retention ranking in the top 5. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
98.0%
Percentile within industry
Rank #2 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
15.6
Scale of 0-100
Rank #38 of 51 states
Establishment Density
13.2
vs. national average
Rank #23 of 51 states
Market Volatility
7.9
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
42.5
Labor cost pressure

15,864 Establishments in Wisconsin

15,864
Establishments
+6.5% YoY
140,998
Total Employment
+3.4% YoY
$79,702
Average Annual Wage
+4.4% YoY

Wisconsin vs National Construction Average

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

Metric WI National Difference
Entry Risk Score 25.1 44.2 -19.2
5-Year Retention 98.0% 51.0% +47.0
Growth Momentum 15.6 30.9 -15.3
Market Volatility 7.9 20.9 -13.0
Establishment Density 13.2 24.6 -11.4
Wage Pressure 42.5 57.1 -14.6

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

Wisconsin Ranks #1 of 51 for Construction

Wisconsin ranks #1 out of 51 states for construction market entry conditions.

Construction Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Wisconsin You 25.1 low
#2 Michigan 28.0 low
#3 Pennsylvania 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 Wisconsin stack up against other states for construction?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Construction in Neighboring States

How Wisconsin's construction market compares to bordering states.

Michigan 28.0 #2/51 Iowa 34.3 #7/51 Minnesota 37.3 #14/51 Illinois 49.1 #34/51

Other Industries in Wisconsin

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 →