In 2023, construction turnover averaged 22.5%, the highest rate among non-farm industries, and that churn keeps pressure on pay, scheduling, and hiring. Compensation and benefits are broadening in response, with health insurance offered by 78% of firms and overtime averaging 1.5 times the hourly rate. This report traces the data behind recruitment, retention, and training gaps that are reshaping HR decisions across job sites.
Key Takeaways
- Average construction worker wage was $32.45/hour in 2023, with benefits adding 32% value
- Women underrepresented at 11% but 25% turnover rate 2023
- In 2023, 68% of construction companies reported challenges in recruiting skilled tradespeople, with a specific shortage of 382,000 workers projected by 2026 according to industry forecasts
- Construction turnover rate averaged 22.5% in 2023, highest among non-farm industries
- In 2023, construction firms invested an average of 2.1% of payroll in training programs, with 78% focusing on safety certifications like OSHA 10
Construction HR data shows strong hiring demand, but retention depends on competitive pay and better job support.
Related reading
01 · Category
Compensation and Benefits26 stats
01
Average construction worker wage was $32.45/hour in 2023, with benefits adding 32% value
02
78% of construction firms offered health insurance in 2023, avg premium $6,800 employee share
03
Overtime pay averaged 1.5x rate, comprising 15% of total comp in 2023
04
401(k) participation at 62%, avg match 4.2% of salary in 2023
05
Bonus payouts reached 12% of base pay for project managers 2023
06
Paid time off averaged 14 days/year for laborers in 2023
07
Workers comp claims cost avg $42,000per serious injury 2023
08
55% offered tuition reimbursement up to $5,250/year 2023
09
Prevailing wage on federal projects 20% above market avg 2023
10
Life insurance benefits covered 85% at 1x salary avg 2023
11
Short-term disability offered by 49%, avg 60% pay replacement 2023
12
Performance incentives boosted comp 8-10% for foremen 2023
13
HSA contributions matched avg $500/employee 2023
14
Union wages 17% higher than non-union avg $38.20/hr 2023
15
Childcare benefits in 22% of firms, saving $2,500/year per worker 2023
16
Equity shares offered to 15% of execs in private firms 2023
17
Dental coverage at 76%, avg annual max $1,500 2023
18
Profit-sharing plans in 34% of companies, avg 5% payout 2023
19
Per diem allowances $120/day on remote sites 2023
20
Long-term incentive plans valued at 25% of total comp for VPs 2023
21
Vision benefits offered 72%, avg $200 reimbursement/year 2023
22
Tool allowances $800/year for tradespeople in 41% firms 2023
23
EAP utilization 12% for mental health support 2023
24
Shift differentials added 10% for night work 2023
25
Retention bonuses avg $4,500after 2 years service 2023
26
Pension plans covered 28% of workforce, avg $50k lump sum 2023
Interpretation
Compensation and Benefits Interpretation
Behind the hard hats and swinging hammers lies a surprisingly robust ecosystem of compensation where every nail driven and beam placed is quietly supported by a framework of healthcare, retirement plans, and bonuses that collectively say, "We value your labor enough to build a life on it."
02 · Category
Diversity and Inclusion26 stats
01
Women underrepresented at 11% but 25% turnover rate 2023
02
Black workers comprised 7.2% of construction workforce in 2023
03
4.3% of construction CEOs were women in 2023, up from 2.8% in 2020
04
Hispanic/Latino workers made up 30% of construction labor in 2023
05
Only 12% of apprentices were female in 2023 construction programs
06
6.5% representation of LGBTQ+ workers self-reported in 2023 surveys
07
85% of construction firms lacked formal DEI strategies in 2023
08
Asian workers at 2.1% of total construction employment 2023
09
22% increase in women-owned construction firms from 2018-2023
10
Disability inclusion hiring targets met by 18% of firms in 2023
11
34% of firms offered unconscious bias training in 2023
12
Veteran hiring reached 15% of workforce in participating firms 2023
13
9.8% female project managers in construction 2023
14
ERGs present in 27% of large construction companies 2023
15
45% pay gap persists for women in construction trades 2023
16
Indigenous workers represented 1.2% despite 2% population share 2023
17
61% of DEI initiatives focused on supplier diversity in 2023
18
14% increase in multicultural hiring managers 2023
19
Neurodiversity hiring programs in 8% of firms 2023
20
33% of firms tracked DEI metrics quarterly in 2023
21
Age diversity: 25% under 25, 22% over 55 in 2023 workforce
22
52% belief that DEI improves innovation among execs 2023
23
Transgender inclusion policies in 19% of union contracts 2023
24
7.9% Black foremen representation 2023
25
Mentorship for underrepresented groups reached 41% participation 2023
26
28% of firms set gender hiring goals for 2024 post-2023 audits
Interpretation
Diversity and Inclusion Interpretation
The construction industry is trying to build a more inclusive workforce, but the blueprints show we're still laying the foundation while the demand for equitable representation is already move-in ready.
03 · Category
Recruitment and Hiring30 stats
01
In 2023, 68% of construction companies reported challenges in recruiting skilled tradespeople, with a specific shortage of 382,000 workers projected by 2026 according to industry forecasts
02
74% of U.S. construction firms in 2022 cited difficulty hiring carpenters, marking the highest recruitment challenge among trades
03
Only 22% of construction hiring managers in 2023 used AI-driven tools for candidate screening, despite 55% expressing interest
04
The average time-to-hire for construction project managers increased to 47 days in 2023 from 38 days in 2021
05
61% of construction recruiters in 2024 plan to increase use of social media platforms like LinkedIn for sourcing blue-collar workers
06
In Q4 2023, 82% of general contractors struggled to fill heavy equipment operator positions, with vacancy rates at 12.5%
07
Construction industry apprenticeship programs filled only 15% of open skilled trade positions in 2022
08
56% of construction firms in 2023 offered signing bonuses averaging $3,200 to attract welders
09
Female representation in construction hiring pipelines dropped to 10.9% in 2023, hindering diversity recruitment goals
10
45% of construction hiring in 2024 involved gig or temp workers to address immediate shortages
11
Entry-level laborer positions saw a 28% increase in applicant volume in 2023 due to economic shifts
12
67% of construction SMEs in Europe reported recruitment costs rising 19% year-over-year in 2023
13
Only 34% of construction firms utilized virtual reality for pre-hire skills assessments in 2023
14
Projected need for 1.1 million new construction workers by 2025 due to infrastructure bills
15
52% of recruiters noted a 15% drop in qualified HVAC technician applicants in 2023
16
Construction hiring managers reported a 40% reliance on employee referrals in 2023, highest among industries
17
71% of large construction firms in 2024 aim to expand international recruitment for engineers
18
Average cost per hire in construction reached $4,200in 2023, up 12% from 2022
19
29% of construction jobs remained unfilled for over 90 days in 2023
20
Use of ATS systems in construction recruitment grew to 48% adoption in 2023
21
63% of firms reported electrician shortages leading to project delays in 2023
22
Construction industry saw 25% increase in H-2B visa applications for laborers in 2023
23
38% of hiring managers prioritized soft skills like teamwork over technical skills in 2023 surveys
24
Plumber vacancy rates hit 14.2% in urban construction markets in 2023
25
55% of construction startups used freelance platforms for initial hires in 2023
26
Ironworker recruitment challenges affected 76% of bridge projects in 2023
27
41% increase in construction bootcamp programs for rapid hiring in 2023
28
Sheet metal worker applications declined 18% in 2023 despite wage increases
29
64% of contractors used targeted ads on Indeed for laborer hires in 2023
30
Projected 546,000 annual openings in construction occupations through 2032
Interpretation
Recruitment and Hiring Interpretation
It's a wonder any buildings get finished when the industry is simultaneously desperate for 1.1 million new bodies, yet largely insists on recruiting them with methods older than the plumbing they can't find anyone to install.
More related reading
04 · Category
Retention and Turnover29 stats
01
Construction turnover rate averaged 22.5% in 2023, highest among non-farm industries
02
41% of construction workers cited better pay as reason for leaving in 2023 surveys
03
Voluntary turnover in skilled trades reached 19.8% in Q3 2023
04
35% of Gen Z construction workers planned to leave within a year due to work-life balance in 2023
05
Retention bonuses retained 28% of critical staff in high-turnover periods of 2023
06
Average tenure for construction laborers was 2.1 years in 2023
07
52% turnover reduction achieved via career pathing programs in 2023 case studies
08
Exit interviews showed 29% left due to safety concerns in construction 2023
09
Female turnover rate in construction was 31% vs 21% for males in 2023
10
67% of firms with high retention offered flexible scheduling in 2023
11
Project manager turnover cost firms avg $45,000per incident in 2023
12
44% of turnover linked to poor onboarding in construction 2023 analysis
13
Unionized sites had 14% lower turnover rates than non-union in 2023
14
38% of workers over 55 planned retirement, accelerating shortages in 2023
15
Employee engagement scores correlated with 25% lower turnover in 2023 surveys
16
51% retention improvement from mental health support programs in 2023
17
Hispanic worker turnover at 26% due to language barriers in 2023
18
62% of high-turnover firms lacked succession planning in 2023
19
Seasonal turnover peaked at 33% in summer months for laborers 2023
20
Predictive analytics reduced turnover by 18% in pilot programs 2023
21
47% cited commute times as turnover factor in urban construction 2023
22
Foremen retention rose 22% with autonomy in scheduling 2023
23
55% of departing workers joined competitors within 6 months 2023
24
Wellness programs cut turnover 16% in large contractors 2023
25
39% turnover from lack of advancement opportunities 2023
26
Overtime fatigue drove 24% of quits in 2023 construction
27
66% retention boost from recognition programs 2023
28
Turnover cost industry $12B in 2023 productivity losses
29
28% lower turnover in firms with family leave policies 2023
Interpretation
Retention and Turnover Interpretation
Construction's workforce is leaking talent like a sieve because too many firms treat workers as disposable labor rather than investing in their pay, safety, and lives outside the job site.
05 · Category
Training and Development27 stats
01
In 2023, construction firms invested an average of 2.1% of payroll in training programs, with 78% focusing on safety certifications like OSHA 10
02
65% of construction workers completed less than 40 hours of annual training in 2022, below industry benchmarks
03
Adoption of VR training modules in construction reached 23% in large firms by 2023, reducing on-site errors by 34%
04
52% of apprentices in construction programs dropped out due to lack of mentorship in 2023
05
Average training spend per employee in construction was $1,200in 2023, up 8% from 2022
06
71% of construction supervisors received leadership training in 2023, improving project completion rates by 15%
07
Only 19% of construction firms offered digital skills training like BIM software in 2023
08
OSHA compliance training covered 89% of workers, but advanced fall protection training only 44% in 2023
09
Construction industry upskilled 1.2 million workers via NCCER programs from 2018-2023
10
48% of firms reported ROI of 4:1 on safety training investments in 2023
11
Women in construction participated in targeted training at 12% rate in 2023
12
67% of construction training budgets allocated to trade-specific skills like welding in 2023
13
E-learning platforms used by 39% of construction companies reduced training costs by 27% in 2023
14
55% of new hires required 80+ hours of onboarding training in construction in 2023
15
Green building certification training (LEED) completed by 26% of project managers in 2023
16
Mentorship programs trained 35% of junior staff, boosting retention by 22% in 2023
17
Heavy equipment operator certification renewal rates at 92% post-training in 2023
18
44% of construction firms integrated soft skills training, improving team dynamics scores by 18%
19
Spanish-language safety training reached 28% of Hispanic workers in 2023
20
Advanced rigging training adopted by 31% of firms, reducing accidents by 25% in 2023
21
62% of training focused on sustainability practices in EU construction in 2023
22
Micro-credential programs certified 150,000 construction workers in 2023
23
57% of foremen lacked digital tool training, delaying projects by avg 12 days in 2023
24
Crane operator simulator training used by 40% of firms, cutting real-world errors 41%
25
73% of unions provided joint apprenticeship training, enrolling 90,000 in 2023
26
DEI training modules completed by 33% of construction staff in 2023
27
Electrical code update training covered 68% of electricians in 2023
Interpretation
Training and Development Interpretation
It seems the construction industry is trying to build a better workforce, but the foundation is a bit lopsided: they're pouring concrete on safety compliance while the scaffolding of mentorship and digital skills is full of gaps.
report visual · Comparison
How common key benefits and comp components were in construction (2023)
In 2023, most construction firms offered health insurance (78%), while benefits participation varied across programs (e.g., 401(k) at 62%).
Firms offering health insurance78%
Avg employee share of health premium (implied premium share metric)78%
Firms offering dental coverage76%
401(k) participation62%
Overtime pay share of total comp15%
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). HR In The Construction Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hr-in-the-construction-industry-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "HR In The Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/hr-in-the-construction-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "HR In The Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hr-in-the-construction-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
60 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level