Amid a 439,000-worker shortfall and 306,000 open jobs, the construction industry is widening its talent pipeline to a historically underrepresented group: women. While the sector remains male-dominated, women’s presence—and pay—are rising. In the 2025 edition of their Best-Paying States for Women in Construction report, researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed the newest Census Bureau and BEA data to identify where women are earning the most in construction, adjusted for cost of living differences, and the states with the highest female employment shares.

Amid a 439,000-worker shortfall and 306,000 open jobs, the construction industry is widening its talent pipeline to a historically underrepresented group: women. While the sector remains male-dominated, women’s presence—and pay—are rising. In the 2025 edition of their Best-Paying States for Women in Construction report, researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed the newest Census Bureau and BEA data to identify where women are earning the most in construction, adjusted for cost of living differences, and the states with the highest female employment shares.

America’s factories are gearing up for a revival—but just how many jobs this new wave of investment will create remains uncertain, with employment forecasts ranging from as few as 110,000 to as many as 3.8 million over the next decade. With projects making national headlines—such as Samsung’s $17 billion semiconductor plant and Tesla’s expansion in Texas, major EV investments in Georgia, and Micron’s growth in Idaho—it’s clear manufacturing employment will rise, though these gains will vary widely from state to state. A new analysis from ETQ highlights the U.S. states projected to see the most growth in manufacturing jobs over the next decade, analyzing the latest workforce projections from 49 state labor departments.

America’s factories are gearing up for a revival—but just how many jobs this new wave of investment will create remains uncertain, with employment forecasts ranging from as few as 110,000 to as many as 3.8 million over the next decade. With projects making national headlines—such as Samsung’s $17 billion semiconductor plant and Tesla’s expansion in Texas, major EV investments in Georgia, and Micron’s growth in Idaho—it’s clear manufacturing employment will rise, though these gains will vary widely from state to state. A new analysis from ETQ highlights the U.S. states projected to see the most growth in manufacturing jobs over the next decade, analyzing the latest workforce projections from 49 state labor departments.