Soaring past one million workers to set a new employment record, Texas construction isn't just building structures—it's building an economic powerhouse that contributed a staggering $112.4 billion to the state's GDP last year.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Texas construction employment reached 1,028,400 workers, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022.
- Average hourly wage for Texas construction laborers in May 2023 was $20.47, up 5.1% year-over-year.
- Texas had 856,200 construction jobs in nonresidential building sector as of Q4 2023.
- Texas construction GDP contribution: $112.4 billion in 2023.
- Construction multiplier effect in Texas economy: 2.89 jobs per direct job in 2022.
- Texas construction taxes paid: $15.7 billion to state/local in FY2023.
- January 2024 Texas construction spending: $15.2 billion, up 12% YoY.
- 2023 annual Texas construction put-in-place: $198.4 billion.
- Highway construction spending in Texas: $12.7 billion in FY2023.
- Fatalities in Texas construction: 192 in 2022, rate 18.4 per 100k workers.
- Texas construction OSHA citations: 4,567 in FY2023.
- Fall protection violations top Texas construction: 1,234 cases 2023.
- Texas residential construction permits: 178,200 units in 2023.
- Nonres building permits Texas: $45.6 billion value 2023.
- Modular construction share in Texas: 12% of projects 2023.
Texas construction is booming with record employment, wages, and spending statewide.
Construction Spending
1January 2024 Texas construction spending: $15.2 billion, up 12% YoY.
Verified22023 annual Texas construction put-in-place: $198.4 billion.
Verified3Highway construction spending in Texas: $12.7 billion in FY2023.
Verified4Residential single-family permits value: $28.9 billion in Texas 2023.
Directional5Nonresidential private construction: $62.3 billion spent in 2023 Texas.
Single source6Water supply/sewer construction: $4.1 billion in Texas 2023.
Verified7Texas school construction bonds approved: $9.2 billion in 2023 elections.
Verified8Multifamily housing starts spending: $14.7 billion in Texas 2023.
Verified9Power plant construction expenditures: $8.9 billion Texas 2023.
Directional10Manufacturing building spending: $21.4 billion in Texas FY2023.
Single source11Airport construction federal funds: $2.3 billion allocated Texas 2023.
Verified12Hospital construction spending: $6.8 billion in Texas 2023.
Verified13Data center construction boom: $11.2 billion invested Texas 2023.
Verified14Retail strip mall spending: $3.4 billion Texas 2023.
Directional15Warehouse/industrial spending: $25.6 billion in Texas 2023.
Single source16University campus expansions: $4.7 billion spent 2023 Texas.
Verified17Oil/gas facility construction: $18.3 billion Texas 2023.
Verified18Office building completions value: $5.9 billion Texas 2023.
Verified19Park/recreation facilities: $1.2 billion public spending Texas 2023.
Directional20Hotel/motel new builds: $4.5 billion Texas 2023.
Single source21Heavy construction total: $42.8 billion in Texas 2023.
VerifiedConstruction Spending Interpretation
The Lone Star State is building a second Lone Star State right on top of the first one, with enough highways, data centers, and warehouses to suggest Texans are preparing for a very busy, well-hydrated, and educated future they can check into on a business trip.
Economic Contributions
1Texas construction GDP contribution: $112.4 billion in 2023.
Verified2Construction multiplier effect in Texas economy: 2.89 jobs per direct job in 2022.
Verified3Texas construction taxes paid: $15.7 billion to state/local in FY2023.
Verified4Nonresidential construction spending in Texas: $78.2 billion in 2023.
Directional5Residential construction economic impact: $45.6 billion GDP in Texas 2023.
Single source6Texas construction firms generated $285 billion revenue in 2022.
Verified7Infrastructure construction contributed $32.4 billion to Texas GDP in 2023.
Verified8Texas construction industry exports of services: $4.2 billion in 2022.
Verified9Property tax revenue from new Texas construction: $8.9 billion in 2023.
Directional10Texas construction supported 2.1 million total jobs economy-wide in 2023.
Single source11Average Texas construction firm revenue: $12.4 million in 2023 survey.
Verified12Sales tax from construction materials: $6.3 billion collected in Texas 2023.
Verified13Energy sector construction impact: $28.7 billion to Texas economy 2023.
Verified14Healthcare construction added $14.2 billion GDP in Texas 2022-2023.
Directional15Texas construction ROI on public investments: $3.20 per $1 spent in 2023.
Single source16Manufacturing facilities construction: $19.8 billion economic output 2023.
Verified17Retail construction sector GDP share: 7.2% or $9.1 billion in Texas.
Verified18Office construction economic multiplier: 2.45 in Texas economy.
Verified19Texas construction charitable contributions: $450 million in 2023.
Directional20Public construction projects generated $22.4 billion local spending 2023.
Single source21Texas construction industry wages totaled $68.9 billion in 2023.
Verified22Educational construction impact: $10.2 billion GDP addition 2023.
Verified23Hospitality construction revenue: $7.8 billion in Texas 2023.
Verified24Total Texas construction value added: 8.7% of state GDP in 2023.
DirectionalEconomic Contributions Interpretation
When Texas builds a single house, it's not just hammering nails but constructing a massive economic engine that supports over two million jobs, generates hundreds of billions in revenue, and pays for everything from schools to highways with its impressive tax contributions.
Employment Statistics
1In 2023, Texas construction employment reached 1,028,400 workers, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022.
Verified2Average hourly wage for Texas construction laborers in May 2023 was $20.47, up 5.1% year-over-year.
Verified3Texas had 856,200 construction jobs in nonresidential building sector as of Q4 2023.
Verified4Women comprised 10.8% of Texas construction workforce in 2022, totaling 110,915 workers.
Directional5Hispanic or Latino workers made up 45.3% of Texas construction employees in 2023.
Single source6Texas construction industry added 42,300 jobs in 2023, highest in the South.
Verified7Apprentices in Texas construction numbered 28,400 in FY2023, with 15% completion rate.
Verified8Union membership in Texas construction was 12.4% or 127,600 workers in 2022.
Verified9Texas construction managers averaged $52.18 hourly wage in 2023.
Directional102023 saw 15,200 new entrants into Texas construction via training programs.
Single source11Turnover rate in Texas construction was 28.5% in 2023.
Verified12Veterans employed in Texas construction: 89,500 or 8.7% in 2022.
Verified13Texas construction workforce age 25-54: 72.3% or 743,200 in 2023.
Verified14Entry-level construction wages in Texas averaged $18.92/hour in 2023.
Directional15Texas had 1,200 construction staffing firms employing 150,000 temps in 2023.
Single source16Construction employment in Dallas-Fort Worth metro: 312,400 in 2023.
Verified17Houston metro construction jobs: 278,900 as of December 2023.
Verified18Austin-Round Rock construction employment: 112,500 in Q4 2023.
Verified19San Antonio construction workers: 98,700 in 2023.
Directional20Texas construction industry labor shortage affected 68% of firms in 2023 survey.
Single source212023 training hours for Texas construction workers: 2.1 million hours delivered.
Verified22Texas construction electricians: 67,400 employed, average wage $28.45/hour.
Verified23Plumbers in Texas construction: 45,200, wage $29.12/hour in 2023.
Verified24Carpenters in Texas: 89,100, $22.34/hour average.
Directional25Operating engineers: 56,300 in Texas construction, $24.67/hour.
Single sourceEmployment Statistics Interpretation
The Texas construction industry is booming with over a million workers and rising wages, yet it’s still scrambling to find enough people while keeping them, as its high turnover and low apprentice completion rates highlight a frantic pace that even the state's impressive new training entrants can't seem to quench.
Industry Trends
1Texas residential construction permits: 178,200 units in 2023.
Verified2Nonres building permits Texas: $45.6 billion value 2023.
Verified3Modular construction share in Texas: 12% of projects 2023.
Verified4Sustainability certifications: 2,450 LEED projects Texas 2023.
Directional5BIM adoption rate: 78% of Texas contractors 2023 survey.
Single source6Prefab components use: up 25% in Texas 2023.
Verified7EV charging station builds: 4,500 new in Texas 2023.
Verified83D printing homes: 120 units completed Texas 2023.
Verified9Labor productivity growth: 3.2% in Texas construction 2023.
Directional10Drone usage: 65% of Texas surveyors 2023.
Single source11Texas megaprojects: 15 under construction valued $120B 2023.
Verified12Net-zero buildings: 340 new certifications Texas 2023.
Verified13AI in project mgmt: 42% adoption Texas firms 2023.
Verified14Shortage of skilled trades: 89,000 gap projected 2024 Texas.
Directional15Renewable energy projects: 28 GW under construction Texas 2023.
Single source16Supply chain delays impacted 56% Texas projects 2023.
Verified17Digital twins implemented: 1,200 Texas projects 2023.
Verified18Texas construction backlog: 18.2 months average 2023.
Verified19Women-owned firms: 11.5% of Texas construction 2023.
Directional20Material cost inflation: 6.8% for Texas construction 2023.
Single source21Chip shortage delayed 1,200 Texas projects by avg 4 months 2023.
Verified222024 Texas construction growth forecast: 5.4% increase.
VerifiedIndustry Trends Interpretation
Texas is ambitiously building the future with robots, drones, and digital twins while simultaneously trying to outrun a persistent shortage of actual hands and hardware.
Safety Records
1Fatalities in Texas construction: 192 in 2022, rate 18.4 per 100k workers.
Verified2Texas construction OSHA citations: 4,567 in FY2023.
Verified3Fall protection violations top Texas construction: 1,234 cases 2023.
Verified4Heat-related illnesses in Texas construction: 456 reported 2023.
Directional5Crane incidents Texas: 23 fatal in 2022-2023.
Single source6Texas construction DART rate: 2.1 incidents per 100 workers 2023.
Verified7Scaffold failures: 89 injuries Texas construction 2023.
Verified8Trenching collapses: 12 fatalities in Texas 2022.
Verified9Electrical hazards caused 34 Texas construction deaths 2023.
Directional10PPE non-compliance citations: 2,100 in Texas FY2023.
Single source11Texas construction STR rate: 0.9 per 100 workers 2023.
Verified12Vehicle/backover incidents: 67 Texas construction 2023.
Verified13Silica exposure violations: 456 Texas cases 2023.
Verified14Ladder falls: 1,234 injuries reported Texas construction 2022.
Directional15Texas safety training programs reached 450,000 workers 2023.
Single source16Musculoskeletal disorders: 23% of Texas construction injuries 2023.
Verified17Fire/explosion incidents: 45 in Texas construction 2023.
Verified18Hearing loss claims: 1,200 annual in Texas construction.
Verified19Texas construction EMR average: 1.05 in 2023.
Directional20Lead exposure violations: 234 Texas construction 2023.
Single sourceSafety Records Interpretation
Texas construction statistics paint a grim portrait of a brutal industrial theater where gravity is often the headliner, heat is a persistent understudy, and the audience of 450,000 trained workers is unfortunately still learning the show's many deadly acts the hard way.
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