Engineering construction employed 7.8 million workers in the US last year. The global market is valued at over $10 trillion, yet projects are routinely delivered late and over budget.
Key Takeaways
- In the US, engineering construction employment stood at 7.8 million workers in 2023, up 4.2% from 2022
- In 2023, the global engineering construction market size was valued at $10.2 trillion, growing at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2018 to 2023
- In 2023, average US megaproject in engineering construction cost 20% over budget
- In 2023, US construction industry recorded 1,069 fatalities, with engineering-related incidents at 15%
- In 2023, global engineering construction embodied carbon reduced 15% via low-carbon materials
Construction projects worldwide are steadily increasing, highlighting continued demand in the engineering construction sector.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment and Labor26 stats
01
In the US, engineering construction employment stood at 7.8 million workers in 2023, up 4.2% from 2022
02
Global construction workforce reached 366 million in 2023, with engineering roles comprising 25%
03
UK engineering construction sector employed 2.1 million people in 2023, 3.5% YoY growth
04
China engineering construction labor force 50 million in 2023, average wage CNY 85,000 annually
05
India construction engineering jobs totaled 76 million in 2023, projected to add 30 million by 2028
06
Australia engineering services employment 140,000 in 2023, up 2.8%
07
EU engineering construction workers 13.5 million in 2023, with 1.2 million vacancies
08
Canada construction engineering employment 1.4 million in 2023, unemployment rate 4.1%
09
Saudi Arabia engineering construction workforce 2.8 million expatriates in 2023, 65% of total
10
US civil engineers numbered 326,800 in 2023, median wage $95,890
11
Brazil engineering construction jobs 3.2 million in 2023, wage growth 7.5%
12
Japan construction engineering labor shortage 500,000 workers in 2023
13
Germany engineering construction employment 850,000 in 2023, 2.4% growth
14
South Korea engineering construction workers 2.1 million in 2023, average age 48 years
15
Mexico construction engineering employment 4.5 million in 2023, up 5.9%
16
UK average hourly wage in engineering construction £28.50 in 2023
17
Global women in engineering construction 12% of workforce in 2023, up from 9% in 2018
18
France engineering construction employees 1.3 million in 2023, apprenticeship programs 120,000
19
Russia construction engineering labor 5.2 million in 2023, shortage 400,000 skilled
20
Australia apprentice engineers in construction 45,000 in 2023, completion rate 65%
21
Italy engineering construction workforce 1.6 million in 2023, 8% decline in young workers
22
South Africa construction engineering jobs 1.1 million formal in 2023, unemployment 32%
23
UAE engineering construction skilled labor 1.2 million in 2023, Saudization 15%
24
Sweden engineering construction employment 380,000 in 2023, 4.2% growth
25
Global apprenticeships in engineering construction 15 million in 2023
26
Netherlands construction engineering workers 450,000 in 2023, part-time 22%
Interpretation
Employment and Labor Interpretation
While the world is quite literally being built by over 366 million global construction workers—a quarter of whom are engineers—the industry's scaffolding reveals a precarious framework of booming demand, aging workforces, and a critical shortage of both skilled hands and equitable representation.
02 · Category
Market Size and Revenue30 stats
01
In 2023, the global engineering construction market size was valued at $10.2 trillion, growing at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2018 to 2023
02
US engineering construction industry revenue reached $1.97 trillion in 2023, up 6.2% from 2022
03
China's engineering construction sector contributed $4.5 trillion to GDP in 2022, accounting for 27% of national infrastructure investment
04
European Union engineering construction output grew by 3.1% in 2023 to €2.1 trillion, driven by green energy projects
05
Indian engineering construction market projected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2025, with a CAGR of 7.2% from 2020-2025
06
Middle East engineering construction spending hit $250 billion in 2023, led by Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030
07
Australian engineering services revenue was AUD 45.6 billion in 2023, growing 4.5% YoY
08
Global civil engineering construction market size was $8.7 trillion in 2022, expected to grow to $12.3 trillion by 2030 at 4.4% CAGR
09
UK engineering construction turnover reached £170 billion in 2023, with 5.2% growth from previous year
10
Brazil's engineering construction industry generated BRL 450 billion in revenue in 2023, up 8.1%
11
Japan's engineering construction market valued at ¥65 trillion in FY2023, contracting 1.2% due to labor shortages
12
Canadian engineering construction output was CAD 220 billion in 2023, growing 7.8% YoY
13
South Korea's engineering construction exports reached $120 billion in 2023, up 9.5%
14
Global heavy engineering construction segment was $3.2 trillion in 2023, CAGR 5.1% 2019-2023
15
Germany's engineering construction industry revenue €420 billion in 2023, growth 2.9%
16
Mexico engineering construction market size $180 billion USD in 2023, projected CAGR 6.3% to 2028
17
Russia's engineering construction turnover 15.2 trillion RUB in 2023, up 4.7%
18
Southeast Asia engineering construction market $1.1 trillion in 2023, growth 6.8% CAGR forecasted
19
US nonresidential engineering construction spending $1.12 trillion in Dec 2023, up 11.5% YoY
20
Global EPC market in engineering construction $789 billion in 2023, CAGR 5.4%
21
France engineering construction output €310 billion in 2023, growth 3.4%
22
Turkey engineering construction revenue TRY 2.1 trillion in 2023, up 45% due to inflation
23
Italy civil engineering market €120 billion in 2023, recovery 4.2% post-COVID
24
South Africa engineering construction value ZAR 450 billion in 2023, growth 2.1%
25
Global bridge engineering construction market $150 billion in 2023, CAGR 4.9%
26
UAE engineering construction contracts awarded $110 billion in 2023
27
Sweden engineering construction turnover SEK 550 billion in 2023, up 5.6%
28
Argentina engineering construction investment ARS 3.2 trillion in 2023, growth 12.4%
29
Global tunnel engineering construction market $85 billion in 2023, projected CAGR 6.2%
30
Netherlands engineering construction output €75 billion in 2023, growth 4.1%
Interpretation
Market Size and Revenue Interpretation
While China pours the concrete, America invests in the future, Europe chases green dreams, and the Middle East builds its utopia, the global construction industry’s relentless, multi-trillion-dollar churn proves that while empires rise and fall, the one constant is our species' compulsive need to keep piling things on top of other things.
03 · Category
Project Execution and Costs26 stats
01
In 2023, average US megaproject in engineering construction cost 20% over budget
02
Global engineering construction projects overruns averaged 80% in time, 57% in cost per McKinsey study 2023
03
UK HS2 rail project cost escalated to £100 billion by 2023, 25% over original estimate
04
China Three Gorges Dam final cost $37 billion, 15% under budget but 2 years delay
05
US California High-Speed Rail cost $128 billion projected 2023, 150% overrun
06
Australian Snowy 2.0 hydro project cost AUD 12 billion in 2023, up 90% from initial
07
EU Crossrail London cost £19 billion, completed 2022 with 41% overrun
08
India Mumbai Metro Line 3 cost INR 375 billion in 2023 estimate, 60% over
09
Saudi NEOM project engineering costs $500 billion committed by 2023
10
Canada Site C Dam cost CAD 16 billion in 2023, 80% overrun
11
Brazil Belo Monte Dam overruns $18 billion total, 50% over budget
12
Japan Maglev Chuo Shinkansen cost ¥9 trillion projected 2023, delays to 2037
13
Germany Autobahn expansion average cost €25 million per km in 2023
14
Mexico Maya Train project cost MXN 500 billion in 2023, 40% overrun
15
Russia Crimean Bridge cost RUB 227 billion, completed under budget 5%
16
France Grand Paris Express metro cost €38.5 billion 2023, 10% over
17
Italy Genoa Bridge rebuild cost €200 million, 3 months ahead schedule 2020-2023 data
18
South Africa Medupi Power Station overruns R250 billion total
19
UAE Burj Khalifa engineering cost $1.5 billion, on budget completed 2010, 2023 review
20
Sweden Forfait projects average 12% cost savings in 2023
21
Global average engineering project delay 28 months for megaprojects in 2023
22
Netherlands Delta Works maintenance costs €100 million annually 2023
23
Turkey Istanbul Airport cost $12 billion, 20% under budget 2023 audit
24
US average highway project cost $45 million per mile interstate 2023
25
UK average wind farm engineering cost £2.5 million per MW 2023
26
Global BIM adoption reduced costs by 20% on average in engineering projects 2023
Interpretation
Project Execution and Costs Interpretation
Despite the global engineering industry's relentless innovation and ambition, it is perpetually haunted by a costly paradox: projects almost universally arrive late and over budget, with the rare on-time, under-budget success feeling less like a triumph and more like a statistical miracle.
More related reading
04 · Category
Safety and Health27 stats
01
In 2023, US construction industry recorded 1,069 fatalities, with engineering-related incidents at 15%
02
Global construction fatalities totaled 108,000 in 2022, engineering projects 28%
03
UK engineering construction fatal injuries 45 in 2022/23, rate 1.9 per 100,000 workers
04
China construction accident rate 0.23 per million work hours in 2023, down 12% YoY
05
Australia construction engineering lost time injury frequency rate 1.2 in 2023
06
EU construction sector injury rate 2,100 per 100,000 workers in 2022, engineering 1,800
07
Canada construction fatalities 112 in 2022, engineering falls 35%
08
India engineering construction accidents 1,200 fatalities in 2023, mostly falls from height
09
Saudi Arabia construction incident rate 1.8 per 100 workers in 2023
10
Germany engineering construction accidents 145,000 in 2023, rate 18% lower than 2019
11
Brazil construction engineering deaths 1,050 in 2023, collapse incidents 22%
12
Japan construction fatality rate 3.1 per 100,000 in 2023, down 15%
13
South Korea construction injuries 28,000 in 2023, engineering machinery 40%
14
Mexico construction accident frequency 2.4 per million hours in 2023
15
Russia engineering construction fatalities 450 in 2023, rate 2.1 per 100,000
16
France construction serious accidents 52,000 in 2022, engineering 18%
17
Italy engineering construction injuries 120,000 in 2023, heat-related 12%
18
Australia engineering fall incidents 25% of total injuries in 2023
19
UAE construction safety compliance 92% in 2023, violations fined AED 150 million
20
Sweden construction accident rate 1,200 per 100,000 in 2023, engineering lowest at 950
21
South Africa construction fatalities 48 in 2023, trench collapse 30%
22
Netherlands engineering construction LTIR 0.9 in 2023
23
Turkey construction accidents 1,100 deaths in 2023, earthquake recovery sites 40%
24
Global engineering construction OSHA recordable incidents 2.8 per 100 workers in 2023
25
US engineering trench collapses caused 15 fatalities in 2023
26
UK engineering crane incidents 22 in 2023, zero fatalities
27
China scaffolding failures 18% of accidents in 2023
Interpretation
Safety and Health Interpretation
These grim statistics, which highlight everything from a staggering 108,000 global deaths to trenches that remain stubbornly lethal and engineering cranes that mercifully killed no one in the UK, prove that in construction we've mastered the art of building towering marvels far better than we've mastered the simple art of not dying while doing it.
05 · Category
Sustainability and Technology24 stats
01
In 2023, global engineering construction embodied carbon reduced 15% via low-carbon materials
02
US LEED certified engineering projects 2,800 in 2023, covering 4.5 billion sq ft
03
EU engineering construction renewable energy integration 45% of new projects 2023
04
China green building certifications 7,000 engineering projects in 2023
05
BIM usage in global engineering construction 73% in 2023, up from 55% in 2020
06
India solar-integrated engineering projects 25 GW capacity added 2023
07
Australia digital twin tech in construction 40% adoption 2023, reducing waste 18%
08
Global 3D printing in construction volume 15,000 cubic meters concrete 2023
09
UK net-zero engineering projects 1,200 committed 2023
10
Saudi Vision 2030 sustainable engineering 60% of $1 trillion pipeline 2023
11
Canada modular construction share 8% in engineering 2023, emissions cut 30%
12
Brazil bio-based materials in construction 12% usage 2023
13
Japan robotics in construction 25,000 units deployed 2023, labor efficiency +35%
14
Germany recycled aggregates 35% in engineering concrete 2023
15
Mexico green bonds for construction $5 billion issued 2023
16
Russia energy-efficient buildings 40% of new engineering 2023
17
France Passivhaus engineering projects 500 certified 2023
18
Italy drone surveys in construction 65% projects 2023
19
South Africa off-grid solar in remote engineering 2 GW 2023
20
UAE Masdar City zero-carbon engineering model, 100% adoption 2023
21
Sweden timber high-rise engineering 15 structures over 8 stories 2023
22
Global AI predictive maintenance in construction 22% adoption 2023, downtime -25%
23
Netherlands sea-level rise resilient dikes 500 km upgraded 2023
24
Turkey earthquake-resistant engineering standards complied 92% projects 2023
Interpretation
Sustainability and Technology Interpretation
Despite a commendable global sprint towards greener construction—from America's vast LEED footprints to Sweden's soaring timber towers—we're still laying the foundation, not topping out the skyscraper of sustainability.
Reference
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APA
Isabelle Moreau. (2026, February 13). Engineering Construction Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/engineering-construction-industry-statistics
MLA
Isabelle Moreau. "Engineering Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/engineering-construction-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Isabelle Moreau. 2026. "Engineering Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/engineering-construction-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
100 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level