From Detroit's soaring skyline to quiet Upper Peninsula highways, Michigan's construction industry is booming with 166,200 hardhats strong, supported by over $28 billion in annual spending and a workforce that is growing, diversifying, and building a resilient future for the Great Lakes State.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Michigan's construction industry employed 166,200 workers, representing 3.7% of total state employment
- Construction employment in Michigan grew by 4.1% year-over-year in 2023, adding 6,800 jobs primarily in nonresidential building construction
- As of Q4 2023, the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area accounted for 45% of Michigan's total construction workforce with 74,900 employees
- Average hourly wage for construction laborers in Michigan was $22.47 in 2023, 8% above national average
- Carpenters in Michigan earned median annual wage of $54,200 in 2022, with top 10% over $78,900
- Operating engineers hourly pay averaged $28.65 in Michigan 2023, including fringe benefits up to $12/hour
- Total construction payroll in Michigan reached $12.4 billion in 2022
- Michigan construction spending totaled $28.7 billion in 2023, up 6.2% from 2022
- Nonresidential construction value in MI: $14.2 billion in FY2023, led by manufacturing facilities
- Building permits issued: 12,450 single-family homes in Michigan 2023
- Total building permit authorizations $15.6 billion value MI 2023
- Residential permits: 22,100 units authorized MI 2023, down 5% YoY
- Total fatal injuries in MI construction: 28 in 2022, rate 16.8 per 100k workers
- Nonfatal injury rate 2.1 cases per 100 workers MI construction 2022
- Falls from height caused 42% of MI construction fatalities 2018-2022 average 12/year
Michigan's construction industry is growing robustly with an aging and diversifying workforce.
Construction Spending and Value
1Total construction payroll in Michigan reached $12.4 billion in 2022
Verified2Michigan construction spending totaled $28.7 billion in 2023, up 6.2% from 2022
Verified3Nonresidential construction value in MI: $14.2 billion in FY2023, led by manufacturing facilities
Verified4Residential construction permits valued at $9.8 billion in Michigan 2023
Directional5Public construction spending in MI increased to $7.5 billion in 2023, 9% YoY growth
Single source6Heavy/civil engineering projects valued $4.1 billion in Michigan 2022
Verified7Office building construction spending $1.2 billion MI 2023, down 3% from peak
Verified8Manufacturing construction boom: $5.6 billion invested in MI 2023
Verified9Highway construction contracts awarded $2.8 billion by MDOT in FY2023
Directional10Single-family home construction value $6.4 billion Michigan 2023
Single source11Educational facilities construction $1.9 billion MI 2022-2023
Verified12Multifamily residential spending $2.1 billion up 12% in MI 2023
Verified13Healthcare construction value $1.4 billion Michigan FY2023
Verified14Retail commercial construction $900 million MI 2023
Directional15Water/sewer infrastructure spending $1.1 billion MI 2023 via federal funds
Single source16Hotel construction value $450 million Michigan 2022
Verified17Renovation/remodeling market $15.3 billion MI 2023 estimate
Verified18Industrial warehouse construction $2.7 billion MI 2023
Verified19Bridge reconstruction spending $850 million by MDOT 2023
Directional20Airport construction projects $650 million MI 2023
Single source21Data center construction value $300 million emerging in MI 2023
Verified22School bond-funded construction $1.2 billion MI 2022-2023
Verified23Private nonresidential spending $10.5 billion MI 2023
Verified24State/local government construction $5.8 billion MI FY2023
Directional25Federal construction contracts $1.3 billion MI 2023
Single source26Green building construction value $3.2 billion MI 2023, 11% of total
VerifiedConstruction Spending and Value Interpretation
Michigan’s construction industry is quite literally rebuilding the state from the factory floor up, with a side of highways and homes, proving that while office work might be optional, someone still has to build all the places we argue about returning to.
Employment Statistics
1In 2022, Michigan's construction industry employed 166,200 workers, representing 3.7% of total state employment
Verified2Construction employment in Michigan grew by 4.1% year-over-year in 2023, adding 6,800 jobs primarily in nonresidential building construction
Verified3As of Q4 2023, the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area accounted for 45% of Michigan's total construction workforce with 74,900 employees
Verified4Michigan construction sector had a labor force participation rate of 62.5% for workers aged 25-54 in 2022, higher than the national average of 60.8%
Directional5Women comprised 10.2% of Michigan's construction workforce in 2022, up from 9.1% in 2018, totaling approximately 16,900 female workers
Single source6Hispanic or Latino workers made up 12.4% of Michigan construction employees in 2021, concentrated in Grand Rapids and Lansing areas
Verified7Union membership in Michigan construction stood at 22.3% in 2022, compared to 9.9% non-union, affecting 37,000 unionized workers
Verified8Average weekly hours worked by Michigan construction workers were 39.2 in 2023, with overtime averaging 4.1 hours per week
Verified9Construction apprenticeships in Michigan numbered 5,200 active participants in FY2022, supported by Michigan Works! programs
Directional10The unemployment rate in Michigan construction was 4.7% in December 2023, below the state average of 4.1%
Single source11Self-employed construction workers in Michigan totaled 28,400 in 2022, representing 17% of the sector's workforce
Verified12Michigan construction jobs openings reached 12,300 in Q3 2023, with a job openings rate of 7.2 per 100 workers
Verified13Veterans comprised 8.5% of Michigan's construction workforce in 2021, or about 14,100 individuals
Verified14Construction employment in Michigan's Upper Peninsula was 4,200 in 2022, down 2% from 2021 due to seasonal factors
Directional15Part-time construction workers in Michigan averaged 11,500 monthly in 2023, mostly in finishing trades
Single source16Michigan construction industry added 2,100 jobs in heavy and civil engineering construction subsector in 2023
Verified17Youth employment (16-24) in Michigan construction was 15,300 in summer 2023, with 68% retention rate post-season
Verified18Disability employment rate in construction reached 4.2% in Michigan 2022, equating to 7,000 workers
Verified19Construction staffing agencies placed 9,800 temporary workers in Michigan in 2022
Directional20Michigan construction workforce aged 55+ comprised 28.4% or 47,200 workers in 2023, indicating aging workforce concerns
Single source21Entry-level construction hires (under 1 year experience) numbered 14,200 in Michigan 2022
Verified22Construction employment in Flint metro area was 5,600 in 2023, up 5% YoY
Verified23Multi-generational family businesses employed 32% of Michigan construction workers in 2021 survey
Verified24Remote/hybrid roles in construction management in Michigan grew to 1,200 positions in 2023
Directional25Construction workers with associate degrees or higher: 18.7% or 31,100 in Michigan 2022
Single source26Seasonal layoffs affected 8,900 Michigan construction workers in winter 2022-2023
Verified27Michigan construction industry had 3,200 job separations per month average in 2023
Verified28Foreign-born workers: 14.6% of Michigan construction force, or 24,300 in 2022
Verified29Construction superintendent roles in Michigan: 2,900 employed in 2023
Directional30Total construction establishments in Michigan: 12,450 in Q1 2024
Single sourceEmployment Statistics Interpretation
While building Michigan's future, the state's construction industry is grappling with an aging workforce and fierce competition for talent, yet it's showing encouraging signs of resilience and growth by slowly becoming more diverse, increasingly unionized, and strategically concentrated in Detroit's metro area.
Permits and Projects
1Building permits issued: 12,450 single-family homes in Michigan 2023
Verified2Total building permit authorizations $15.6 billion value MI 2023
Verified3Residential permits: 22,100 units authorized MI 2023, down 5% YoY
Verified4Nonresidential permits 1,850 projects MI 2023 valued $4.2 billion
Directional5MDOT awarded 1,200 road projects permits in 2023 totaling 2,500 miles resurfaced
Single source6Commercial building permits: 420 in Detroit MSA 2023
Verified7Multi-family permits: 4,200 units MI 2023, concentrated in Ann Arbor
Verified8Demolition permits issued 8,500 structures MI 2023
Verified9Solar installation permits 2,100 residential MI 2023, up 25%
Directional10New manufacturing plant permits 15 facilities MI 2023
Single source11Hospital expansion permits 12 projects $800M value MI 2023
Verified12School construction permits 45 districts MI 2023 $650M
Verified13Warehouse/distribution center permits 28 buildings 5.2M sq ft MI 2023
Verified14Bridge permits/repairs 320 structures MDOT 2023
Directional15Wind farm project permits 3 new sites 450MW MI 2023
Single source16Retail strip mall permits 65 MI 2023 $450M value
Verified17Water treatment plant upgrades 18 permits MI 2023 $1.2B
Verified18Hotel permits 22 new builds 2,100 rooms MI 2023
Verified19EV charging station permits 1,500 sites MI 2023 via NEVI
Directional20Airport runway projects 8 permits $200M MI 2023
Single source21Historic renovation permits 950 MI 2023 tax credits
Verified22Data center permits 4 facilities 1.2M sq ft MI 2023
Verified23Park/trail construction permits 120 MI state parks 2023
Verified24Stadium/arena upgrades 5 major permits $750M MI 2023
DirectionalPermits and Projects Interpretation
While Michigan's residential sector took a slight breather last year, the state spent 2023 stubbornly and diversely rebuilding its bones, from bridges to batteries and nearly everything in between.
Safety and Industry Trends
1Total fatal injuries in MI construction: 28 in 2022, rate 16.8 per 100k workers
Verified2Nonfatal injury rate 2.1 cases per 100 workers MI construction 2022
Verified3Falls from height caused 42% of MI construction fatalities 2018-2022 average 12/year
Verified4OSHA citations issued to MI construction firms: 1,450 in FY2023, fines $4.2M total
Directional5Heat-related illnesses reported 320 cases MI construction summer 2023
Single source6Crane incidents: 5 serious in MI 2022, leading to MIOSHA training mandate
Verified7Silica exposure violations 280 MI construction 2023
Verified8Trench collapse fatalities 3 in MI 2022, rate improved 20% with shoring regs
Verified9PPE compliance rate 88% in MI construction audits 2023
Directional10Musculoskeletal disorders 45% of nonfatal injuries MI construction 2022
Single source11Electrical incidents 18% of fatalities MI construction 2020-2022
Verified12Drug/alcohol testing positive rate 4.2% MI construction 2023
Verified13Safety training hours per worker averaged 24 annually MI 2023
Verified14Vehicle/backover incidents 22 injuries MI construction 2022
Directional15Lead exposure cases 150 MI construction abatement projects 2023
Single source16MIOSHA consultations conducted 450 for construction firms 2023
Verified17Fatigue-related accidents 12% of incidents MI construction 2022
Verified18Scaffolding failures 7 incidents MI 2023, zero fatalities due to inspections
Verified19Hearing loss claims 210 MI construction workers 2022
Directional20Wildfire smoke exposure days 15 in MI construction 2023 Upper Peninsula
Single source21Lost workday cases rate 1.2 per 100 MI construction 2023 improved
Verified22Robotics/adoption rate 18% MI construction firms 2023 survey
Verified23Prefab modular construction share 22% of projects MI 2023
Verified24BIM usage 65% of MI contractors 2023, reducing errors 25%
Directional25Sustainability certifications: 420 LEED projects MI cumulative 2023
Single source26Labor shortage projected 15,000 workers by 2025 MI construction
Verified27Digital twin tech adoption 12% MI large projects 2023
Verified28EV fleet in MI construction: 8% of vehicles 2023
VerifiedSafety and Industry Trends Interpretation
While Michigan's construction industry is building a smarter future with tech and green designs, the sobering truth remains that we are still nailing our workers to a cross of preventable dangers, from falls and trenches to silica and strain, proving that no innovation can replace the fundamental need for relentless safety.
Wage and Compensation
1Average hourly wage for construction laborers in Michigan was $22.47 in 2023, 8% above national average
Verified2Carpenters in Michigan earned median annual wage of $54,200 in 2022, with top 10% over $78,900
Verified3Operating engineers hourly pay averaged $28.65 in Michigan 2023, including fringe benefits up to $12/hour
Verified4Electricians median wage $62,500 annually in Michigan 2022, 12% higher than state median wage
Directional5Construction managers in Detroit MSA earned $105,300 mean annual in 2023
Single source6Plumbers and pipefitters: $59,800 median wage Michigan 2022, with overtime premiums adding 15%
Verified7Benefits package for union construction workers averaged 35% of base wage in Michigan 2023
Verified8Heavy equipment operators wage growth: 5.2% YoY in Michigan to $27.40/hour 2023
Verified9Ironworkers mean hourly $32.10 in Michigan 2022, highest in structural steel subsector
Directional10Average construction supervisor salary $92,400 in Grand Rapids 2023
Single source11Sheet metal workers: $52,100 median Michigan 2022, with prevailing wage rates up to $45/hour
Verified12Total compensation for first-line supervisors: $68.50/hour equiv. including benefits MI 2023
Verified13Wage disparity: Male vs female construction workers 18% gap in Michigan 2022 avg $24.50 vs $20.10/hour
Verified14Overtime pay as % of total earnings: 12% for MI construction in 2023
Directional15Roofer median wage $47,900 Michigan 2022, seasonal adjustments add 10% premium
Single source16Cost estimators annual mean $72,600 in Lansing MSA 2023
Verified17Painter wages averaged $22.80/hour MI 2023, 4% increase from 2022
Verified18Health insurance coverage: 78% of full-time construction workers MI 2022, avg premium $6,200/year
Verified19Drywall installers: $51,200 median wage Michigan 2023
Directional20Pension contributions averaged 8.5% of wages for union trades MI 2022
Single source21Highway maintenance workers $24.10/hour mean MI 2023
Verified22Construction laborers total pay with incentives $48,700 annually MI 2022
Verified23Surveyors wage $64,300 median MI 2023
Verified24Bonus pay averaged $2,800/year for MI construction supervisors 2023
Directional25Glaziers $50,400 median wage Michigan 2022
Single sourceWage and Compensation Interpretation
Michigan's construction industry proves that while it may not be easy to build things, the state is determined to build some very competitive paychecks, albeit with a stubborn and glaring crack in the foundation when it comes to gender equity.
Sources & References
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