Study: Raleigh No. 2 in U.S. for construction workers

Triangle Business Journal | 11/24/2025

Raleigh No. 2 in U.S. for construction workers, study says

Raleigh is a good place to be for construction workers, according to a new study.

The City of Oaks was named the second-best place in the U.S. for construction workers in a study from Astrak, an industry watchdog and global supplier of undercarriage and wear parts for heavy machinery.

According to the findings, Raleigh boasts 8.4 percent of its workforce in construction, tying it with Phoenix for the second-highest percentage. Its construction employment grew 5.5 percent year-over-year, placing it fifth among U.S. cities — and major projects like the $1 billion Raleigh Sports and Entertainment District around the Lenovo Center are driving further momentum.

The ranking considered several factors, including the share of local employment in construction, year-over-year job growth, new housing units authorized per 1,000 existing homes and median construction salaries.  

Topping the list is Phoenix. Rounding out the top five are Austin, Texas, Sacramento and Indianapolis.