A trillion-dollar engine powering the global economy, the housing construction industry isn't just building homes—it's reshaping our world with a staggering $1.15 trillion in U.S. revenue last year alone.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. housing construction industry generated $1.15 trillion in revenue in 2023, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022 driven by single-family home starts.
- Global residential construction market reached $4.8 trillion in 2022, projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% to $6.9 trillion by 2030.
- U.S. new residential construction spending hit $908 billion in 2023, up 8.5% year-over-year.
- In 2023, U.S. single-family housing starts increased by 1.2% to 954,000 units amid rising interest rates.
- Multifamily housing starts in the U.S. totaled 446,000 units in 2023, down 25% from 2022 peak.
- U.S. housing permits for single-family homes averaged 925,000 annually in 2023.
- U.S. construction employment in residential building reached 3.9 million in 2023.
- Average hourly earnings for residential construction workers rose 5.2% to $32.45 in 2023.
- U.S. housing construction labor shortage affected 87% of builders in 2023 survey.
- U.S. residential construction material costs rose 5.8% to average $51,000 per house in 2023.
- Lumber prices for framing averaged $550 per thousand board feet in 2023.
- Overall construction input costs increased 4.1% for residential builders in 2023.
- U.S. residential buildings accounted for 38% of national energy use, prompting green standards.
- 45 states adopted 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for housing by 2023.
- LEED-certified homes numbered 5,000 new registrations in 2023.
The housing construction industry is growing strongly in revenue despite market volatility and labor shortages.
Construction Trends and Starts
- In 2023, U.S. single-family housing starts increased by 1.2% to 954,000 units amid rising interest rates.
- Multifamily housing starts in the U.S. totaled 446,000 units in 2023, down 25% from 2022 peak.
- U.S. housing permits for single-family homes averaged 925,000 annually in 2023.
- Total U.S. housing completions reached 1.43 million units in 2023.
- Western U.S. saw 28% of national single-family starts at 270,000 units in 2023.
- Suburban areas accounted for 52% of new single-family home starts in 2023.
- U.S. housing starts under construction averaged 1.02 million units in 2023.
- Single-family homes with 3 bedrooms dominated starts at 62% or 590,000 units in 2023.
- U.S. for-sale housing starts increased 5% to 180,000 units in 2023.
- Rental multifamily starts fell 30% to 310,000 units in late 2023.
- Northeast U.S. multifamily starts totaled 85,000 units in 2023.
- U.S. homes started with garages at 92% rate, averaging 2.3 cars in 2023.
- Midwest single-family starts declined 2% to 200,000 units in 2023.
- U.S. new home sales rose 11% to 668,000 units in 2023.
- Southern U.S. led with 37% of multifamily starts at 165,000 units in 2023.
- Average single-family home size shrunk 1% to 2,299 sq ft in 2023 starts.
- U.S. housing starts-to-sales ratio was 5.1 months supply in 2023.
- Western states single-family permits up 15% to 220,000 in 2023.
- 68% of new single-family homes started in 2023 had open floor plans.
- U.S. condo starts plummeted 50% to 12,000 units in 2023.
- Sun Belt metros accounted for 45% of national housing starts in 2023.
- Average time to start construction after permit: 1.8 months in 2023 U.S.
- 25% of multifamily starts were in buildings with 50+ units in 2023.
- U.S. homeowner-association homes starts at 72% of single-family in 2023.
- Pacific division housing starts totaled 180,000 units in 2023.
Construction Trends and Starts Interpretation
The American dream is stubbornly downsizing into a three-bedroom, two-garage suburban box in the Sun Belt, while builders, spooked by high rates, are quietly retreating from apartments and condos as if they were haunted.
Costs and Pricing
- U.S. residential construction material costs rose 5.8% to average $51,000 per house in 2023.
- Lumber prices for framing averaged $550 per thousand board feet in 2023.
- Overall construction input costs increased 4.1% for residential builders in 2023.
- Softwood lumber share of single-family home cost: 15% or $49,000 in 2023.
- Ready-mix concrete costs rose 6.2% to $160 per cubic yard in 2023.
- Finished lots priced at average $55,000 per single-family home in 2023.
- OSB prices averaged $450 per 7/16" sheet in residential roofing 2023.
- Copper wire costs for residential electrical increased 8% to $4.50/lb in 2023.
- Average cost to build a single-family home reached $428,000 in 2023.
- Gypsum (drywall) costs up 4.5% to $15 per 1/2" sheet in 2023.
- PEX plumbing pipe prices rose 7% to $0.60/ft for 1/2" in 2023.
- Asphalt shingle costs averaged $120 per square in residential 2023.
- Diesel fuel for construction equipment: $4.20/gallon average 2023.
- Steel rebar prices for foundations up 3% to $850/ton in 2023.
- Vinyl siding costs increased to $5.50/sq ft installed in 2023.
- Fiberglass insulation batts: $0.85/sq ft average cost 2023.
- Window unit costs averaged $450 for double-hung vinyl in 2023 homes.
- HVAC system costs for new homes: $12,000 average central air 2023.
- Cabinetry costs in kitchens rose to $15,000 average per new home 2023.
- Land development costs consumed 18% of total home cost at $77,000 in 2023.
- Tile flooring costs: $8/sq ft ceramic for baths in 2023.
- Electrical wiring costs: $2.50/sq ft average in new homes 2023.
- Roofing felt underlayment: $25/roll 2 sq coverage in 2023.
- Appliance package for kitchens: $8,500 average in 2023 starts.
- Framing lumber total cost: $25,000 per average home in 2023.
- Permits and fees: 6% of total cost or $25,700 per house 2023.
Costs and Pricing Interpretation
While our homes are built on foundations of concrete and hope, 2023 reminded us that hope is no longer a load-bearing material, as every single component—from the lumber in the walls to the copper in the wires—seemed to conspire to inflate the American dream right out of the budget.
Labor and Employment
- U.S. construction employment in residential building reached 3.9 million in 2023.
- Average hourly earnings for residential construction workers rose 5.2% to $32.45 in 2023.
- U.S. housing construction labor shortage affected 87% of builders in 2023 survey.
- 650,000 job openings in U.S. construction industry, 40% residential, in Dec 2023.
- Women comprised 10.9% of U.S. construction workforce, up from 9.9% in 2022.
- Hispanic workers made up 30% of residential construction employment in 2023.
- U.S. carpenter employment in residential: 700,000 workers, median wage $25.50/hr in 2023.
- Labor cost share of single-family home rose to 28% or $90,000 per house in 2023.
- 92% of NAHB builders reported difficulty finding skilled trades in 2023.
- U.S. construction unemployment rate averaged 4.0% in residential sector 2023.
- Entry-level framing laborers earned $18-22/hr, experienced $30+ in 2023 U.S.
- Union membership in construction fell to 11.5% of 7.5 million workers in 2023.
- 1.2 million apprentices registered in construction programs, 20% residential in 2023.
- Average workweek for construction workers: 39.2 hours in residential 2023.
- 75% of builders increased wages 4-6% to attract labor in 2023.
- U.S. electricians in residential construction: 150,000 employed, $31/hr median 2023.
- Labor productivity in residential construction declined 2.1% in 2023.
- 45% of construction firms reported hiring challenges for roofers in 2023.
- Plumbers in housing construction: 120,000 workers at $29.50/hr avg 2023.
- Overtime pay in construction averaged 3.5% of total wages in 2023 residential.
- 60% of small builders (under 10 employees) faced labor shortages daily 2023.
- HVAC installers employment: 100,000 in residential, $27/hr median 2023.
- Construction labor turnover rate: 25% annually in residential sector 2023.
- Drywall installers: 90,000 employed, wage growth 6.1% to $24/hr in 2023.
- 80% of builders offered training programs to retain workers in 2023.
- Painters in residential: 80,000 workers, $22.50/hr average 2023.
Labor and Employment Interpretation
The housing industry is frantically paying more to attract a painfully scarce workforce, yet despite rising wages and near-full employment, productivity is falling and the labor shortage remains a stubborn, expensive crisis.
Market Size and Growth
- The U.S. housing construction industry generated $1.15 trillion in revenue in 2023, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022 driven by single-family home starts.
- Global residential construction market reached $4.8 trillion in 2022, projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% to $6.9 trillion by 2030.
- U.S. new residential construction spending hit $908 billion in 2023, up 8.5% year-over-year.
- The value of U.S. single-family housing starts in 2023 totaled 954,000 units, contributing $450 billion to industry output.
- Multifamily housing construction market in North America was valued at $250 billion in 2022.
- U.S. home building industry's GDP contribution stood at 4.1% or $920 billion in 2022.
- European residential construction sector revenue grew to €1.2 trillion in 2023, with a 3.8% YoY rise.
- U.S. residential construction permits issued reached 1.41 million units in 2023.
- The modular housing construction market size was $92.5 billion globally in 2023.
- U.S. remodeling construction segment added $450 billion to the market in 2023.
- Asia-Pacific residential construction market valued at $2.1 trillion in 2022, expected CAGR 6.2%.
- U.S. total housing starts (single + multifamily) averaged 1.41 million annually in 2023.
- Canadian residential construction investment rose 7.3% to CAD 120 billion in 2023.
- U.S. luxury housing construction segment grew 12% to $150 billion in 2023.
- Global prefab housing market size hit $145 billion in 2023, up 9.4%.
- U.S. single-family detached homes accounted for 75% of $700 billion new build value in 2023.
- UK housing construction output increased 2.5% to £50 billion in 2023.
- Australia residential building approvals totaled AUD 85 billion worth in 2023.
- U.S. workforce housing construction market valued at $300 billion in 2023.
- India residential real estate construction reached INR 12 trillion in FY2023.
- U.S. total private residential construction fixed assets valued $15.2 trillion in 2022.
- Brazil housing construction deficit addressed 1.2 million units worth $40 billion in 2023.
- German residential construction permits issued for €120 billion projects in 2023.
- U.S. ADU construction market grew to $5 billion in 2023.
- China new residential construction floor space started 700 million sqm valued at $1.5 trillion in 2023.
- France housing starts reached 350,000 units worth €60 billion in 2023.
- U.S. vacation home construction added $25 billion to market in 2023.
- Mexico residential construction grew 5.8% to MXN 1.2 trillion in 2023.
- South Africa formal housing delivery 200,000 units valued ZAR 100 billion in 2023.
- U.S. senior housing construction market size $18 billion in 2023.
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
While the global housing market shows sturdy, trillion-dollar legs, America's obsession with the single-family home stands as its most reliable—and perhaps stubborn—foundation, driving both growth and a glaring reminder of our supply priorities.
Sustainability and Regulations
- U.S. residential buildings accounted for 38% of national energy use, prompting green standards.
- 45 states adopted 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for housing by 2023.
- LEED-certified homes numbered 5,000 new registrations in 2023.
- U.S. new homes ENERGY STAR certified: 25% or 350,000 units in 2023.
- Solar PV installations on new homes: 15% adoption rate in 2023.
- National average building permit review time: 22 days for single-family in 2023.
- 12 states mandated EV charger readiness in new homes by 2023.
- Recycled content in new home construction averaged 20% by weight in 2023.
- U.S. housing sector carbon emissions targeted 50% reduction by 2030 under IRA.
- Wildfire-resistant building codes adopted in 18 states for housing in 2023.
- WaterSense labeled homes: 40% of new construction in 2023.
- FHA requires energy efficiency mortgages for 90% of new loans in 2023.
- 75% of new homes built to zero-energy ready standards in California 2023.
- Flood risk regulations impacted 30% of U.S. housing starts in 2023.
- Passive House certified homes grew 20% to 1,200 in U.S. 2023.
- National model plumbing code updated for lead-free pipes in all new housing 2023.
- 50% reduction in HFCs mandated for residential HVAC by 2025 under AIM Act.
- Green building incentives claimed $2 billion in tax credits for housing 2023.
- Seismic codes updated in 10 states post-2023 earthquakes for new homes.
- Net-zero energy homes: 5% of starts in Northeast U.S. 2023.
- Radon-resistant new construction required in 40% of U.S. counties 2023.
- Hurricane-resistant standards (IBC 2021) enforced in 15 coastal states 2023.
Sustainability and Regulations Interpretation
We're building a greener, tougher, and more efficient future, one code at a time, but the true measure of progress is whether it all adds up to more than just a pile of impressive statistics.
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