Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho have the highest concentration of construction workers
Source: Construction Coverage analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data | Image Credit: Construction Coverage
All eight Mountain West states rank among the top 10 nationally for construction employment as a share of total jobs. Wyoming leads the nation at 11.0%, followed closely by Utah (9.5%), Idaho (9.3%), Montana (8.7%), Arizona (8.0%), Nevada (7.9%), New Mexico (7.9%), and Colorado (7.7%). This regional concentration reflects both strong construction demand and a significant dependence on the sector for employment.
Construction activity in the Mountain West is being driven by a combination of rapid in-migration, expanding housing needs, and large-scale manufacturing and infrastructure projects. The region’s business-friendly environment and abundance of undeveloped land have made it a hub for both residential and industrial development, pushing construction employment to consistently high levels across state lines.
In contrast, states in the Northeast—such as Connecticut (4.3%), New Jersey (4.4%), and New York (4.7%)—along with several in the Midwest like Illinois (4.5%) and Michigan (5.1%), report the lowest shares of construction employment. These patterns suggest slower population growth, more mature housing markets, and possibly more diversified state economies where construction plays a less dominant role.
Below is a breakdown of the cities and states with the highest concentration of construction workers. For complete results, see the original version on Construction Coverage: Cities With the Most Construction Workers.
