Despite cooling demand in U.S. construction—with spending down in interest-rate-sensitive sectors like housing and commercial development, and nearly 80% of contractors reporting hiring challenges—the industry’s labor gap remains significant: the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) estimates a shortfall of 439,000 workers in 2025. Amid these labor market pressures, construction wages are rising, but not as much as one might expect—and gains vary by state and occupation. Researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify how wages are trending across the construction industry nationally, by state, and by specific occupation.

Despite cooling demand in U.S. construction—with spending down in interest-rate-sensitive sectors like housing and commercial development, and nearly 80% of contractors reporting hiring challenges—the industry’s labor gap remains significant: the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) estimates a shortfall of 439,000 workers in 2025. Amid these labor market pressures, construction wages are rising, but not as much as one might expect—and gains vary by state and occupation. Researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify how wages are trending across the construction industry nationally, by state, and by specific occupation.

America’s housing affordability crisis isn’t letting up: home prices, mortgage rates, and rents remain elevated, squeezing renters and would-be buyers alike. As policymakers and households search for solutions, one option is seeing real traction: manufactured housing. Factory-built and transported to final sites, these homes offer comparable quality at about half the price per square foot of traditional site-built homes ($87 vs. $166). A new analysis from Construction Coverage identifies which U.S. states are investing most in manufactured housing to see where this momentum is building fastest, how the popularity of manufactured housing has changed over time, and how its costs compare to traditional single-family homes.

America’s housing affordability crisis isn’t letting up: home prices, mortgage rates, and rents remain elevated, squeezing renters and would-be buyers alike. As policymakers and households search for solutions, one option is seeing real traction: manufactured housing. Factory-built and transported to final sites, these homes offer comparable quality at about half the price per square foot of traditional site-built homes ($87 vs. $166). A new analysis from Construction Coverage identifies which U.S. states are investing most in manufactured housing to see where this momentum is building fastest, how the popularity of manufactured housing has changed over time, and how its costs compare to traditional single-family homes.

New government data released August 1 shows that U.S. manufacturing employment continued to fall in July 2025—reaching its lowest level since April 2022—even as billions of dollars pour into new plants and reshoring initiatives nationwide. While policymakers often cite job creation as a central goal of bringing manufacturing back home, today’s highly automated factories mean employment is unlikely to return to past levels. In fact, U.S. manufacturing jobs have declined sharply over the past two decades, even as output has grown. A new analysis from ETQ identifies the U.S. states where manufacturing jobs have declined the most since 2000, utilizing the latest BLS and BEA data to examine nationwide changes, the sectors and locations hit hardest, and the widening gap between employment and output.

New government data released August 1 shows that U.S. manufacturing employment continued to fall in July 2025—reaching its lowest level since April 2022—even as billions of dollars pour into new plants and reshoring initiatives nationwide. While policymakers often cite job creation as a central goal of bringing manufacturing back home, today’s highly automated factories mean employment is unlikely to return to past levels. In fact, U.S. manufacturing jobs have declined sharply over the past two decades, even as output has grown. A new analysis from ETQ identifies the U.S. states where manufacturing jobs have declined the most since 2000, utilizing the latest BLS and BEA data to examine nationwide changes, the sectors and locations hit hardest, and the widening gap between employment and output.