Construction activity in Washington spans major infrastructure, housing, and permitting statewide. In 2023, spending reached $62.3 billion (+9.1% from 2022) and permits totaled 112,450, while the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue MSA recorded 25,300 housing starts. This page also tracks the workforce behind the build—plus safety, OSHA citations, and sustainability signals like solar adoption and energy-efficient features.
Key Takeaways
- Highway construction contracts in Washington exceeded $7.8 billion in 2023.
- Number of building permits issued statewide: 112,450 in 2023.
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue MSA saw 25,300 housing starts in 2023.
- Washington's construction industry contributed $28.4 billion to GDP in 2022, or 7.2% of state total.
- Total construction spending in Washington reached $62.3 billion in 2023, up 9.1% from 2022.
- Residential construction permits issued in Washington totaled 48,200 units in 2023, valued at $18.7 billion.
- WA construction industry recorded 4.2 incidents per 100 workers in 2022.
- Fatalities in construction: 28 in Washington 2023, down 12% from 2022.
- OSHA citations issued to WA construction firms: 1,250 in FY2023.
- LEED-certified buildings in WA reached 1,250 by end of 2023.
- 35% of new WA construction incorporated solar panels in 2023.
- Recycled materials usage: 42 tons per $1M project average in 2023.
- In 2023, Washington State's construction sector employed 178,450 full-time workers, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022, with residential construction accounting for 42% of jobs.
- As of Q4 2023, the average hourly wage for construction laborers in Washington was $32.47, 28% above the national average, due to high demand in urban areas like Seattle.
- Women represented 12.3% of the Washington construction workforce in 2022, up from 10.1% in 2018, with initiatives targeting underrepresented groups.
Washington construction surged in 2023 with rising spending and jobs, alongside strong safety and sustainability gains.
Related reading
01 · Category
Construction Volume And Projects18 stats
01
Highway construction contracts in Washington exceeded $7.8 billion in 2023.
02
Number of building permits issued statewide: 112,450 in 2023.
03
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue MSA saw 25,300 housing starts in 2023.
04
WSDOT awarded 450+ highway projects totaling $4.2 billion in 2023.
05
Multifamily units permitted: 32,100 in Washington 2023.
06
Data center construction projects in WA: 12 active in 2023, 2.1M sq ft.
07
School construction bonds funded 180 projects worth $3.5 billion since 2020.
08
Renewable energy projects under construction: 15 wind/solar farms, 1.2 GW capacity.
09
Hospital expansions: 8 major projects, $2.9 billion total value in 2023.
10
Single-family home completions: 28,450 units in 2023 statewide.
11
Light rail extensions: Sound Transit added 10 miles, $3.7 billion cost.
12
Warehouse/distribution centers: 4.5M sq ft permitted in 2023.
13
Bridge replacements: 45 completed under state program in 2023.
14
Office building vacancy-driven renos: 1.2M sq ft in Seattle 2023.
15
Airport terminal upgrades: SEA added 750k sq ft.
16
Water/sewer infrastructure: $1.1 billion in federal-funded projects.
17
Retail construction: 15 new centers, 900k sq ft total 2023.
18
Total value of active construction projects: $112 billion as of 2024.
Interpretation
Construction Volume And Projects Interpretation
In Washington’s construction volume and projects landscape, 2023 was a blockbuster year with 112,450 building permits statewide and WSDOT delivering 450-plus highway projects totaling $4.2 billion alongside 12 active data center projects totaling 2.1 million square feet.
02 · Category
Economic Impact15 stats
01
Washington's construction industry contributed $28.4 billion to GDP in 2022, or 7.2% of state total.
02
Total construction spending in Washington reached $62.3 billion in 2023, up 9.1% from 2022.
03
Residential construction permits issued in Washington totaled 48,200 units in 2023, valued at $18.7 billion.
04
Non-residential construction contracts awarded in Washington hit $15.9 billion in 2022.
05
Property tax revenue from new construction in Washington was $1.2 billion in 2023.
06
Construction multipliers show every $1 million invested generates $2.8 million in economic activity in WA.
07
Inflation in construction materials cost Washington firms an extra $4.1 billion in 2022.
08
State sales tax from construction purchases totaled $890 million in 2023.
09
Heavy/civil engineering projects contributed $9.2 billion to WA economy in 2023.
10
Small businesses (under 20 employees) made up 82% of WA construction firms, generating 35% of revenue.
11
Construction backlog in Washington stood at $45.6 billion as of Q1 2024.
12
Bond measures approved for construction totaled $12.4 billion in WA elections 2022-2023.
13
Export-related construction (ports/airports) added $2.3 billion to GDP in 2023.
14
Cost per square foot for commercial builds in Seattle averaged $285in 2023.
15
Insurance premiums for construction in WA rose 11% to $1.8 billion in 2023.
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
In Washington, construction is a major economic driver with $62.3 billion in 2023 spending and $1.2 billion in 2023 property tax revenue from new construction, and the $28.4 billion GDP contribution in 2022 shows how strongly the industry boosts the state economy.
03 · Category
Safety And Regulatory Compliance19 stats
01
WA construction industry recorded 4.2 incidents per 100 workers in 2022.
02
Fatalities in construction: 28 in Washington 2023, down 12% from 2022.
03
OSHA citations issued to WA construction firms: 1,250 in FY2023.
04
Fall protection violations: 45% of total construction citations in 2023.
05
Lost-time injury rate: 1.8 per 200,000 hours worked in 2022.
06
Crane incidents: 3 reportable in WA 2023, all non-fatal.
07
Silica exposure violations: 210 citations, $1.2M fines in 2023.
08
98% of WA construction firms compliant with prevailing wage laws in 2023 audits.
09
Trenching collapse incidents: 5 in 2022, zero fatalities due to shoring.
10
Heat illness claims: 145 in construction during 2023 summer.
11
Electrical safety training reached 92% of workforce in 2023.
12
Permit compliance rate: 96.5% for structural builds in 2023.
13
Lead abatement projects: 320 inspected, 15 violations.
14
Ergonomic injury claims down 18% to 420 in construction 2023.
15
Fire safety code violations: 89 in multi-family projects 2023.
16
72% of WA construction sites passed random drug testing in 2023.
17
Scaffolding incidents: 22 non-fatal injuries reported 2023.
18
Asbestos removal certifications: 1,450 active in construction 2023.
19
Noise-induced hearing loss claims: 56 in construction 2022.
Interpretation
Safety And Regulatory Compliance Interpretation
In Washington’s construction industry, safety and regulatory compliance concerns stayed significant in 2023, with OSHA citing firms 1,250 times and fall protection violations accounting for 45% of citations while crane incidents remained 3 reportable events, even as fatalities fell 12% to 28.
More related reading
04 · Category
Sustainability And Green Building19 stats
01
LEED-certified buildings in WA reached 1,250 by end of 2023.
02
35% of new WA construction incorporated solar panels in 2023.
03
Recycled materials usage: 42 tons per $1M project average in 2023.
04
Energy-efficient windows in 68% of residential builds 2023.
05
Net-zero energy projects: 22 completed in WA 2023.
06
Water conservation features in 78% of commercial projects 2023.
07
EV charging stations mandated in 55% of new parking structures.
08
Timber use from sustainable forests: 1.2M cubic meters in 2023 builds.
09
Green roofs installed: 450,000 sq ft on WA buildings 2023.
10
Low-VOC materials required in 92% of public projects 2023.
11
Carbon emissions from construction down 14% since 2019 baseline.
12
Passive house standards met by 18 projects in 2023.
13
Rainwater harvesting systems: 320 installed in new developments.
14
Modular green construction: 15% of total volume in 2023.
15
Biodiversity credits from construction sites: 2,500 acres preserved.
16
Geothermal heating in 12 public buildings completed 2023.
17
Waste diversion rate: 75% from landfills in construction debris.
18
Cool roofs reflective index >0.65 in 60% urban projects.
19
Native plant landscaping in 85% highway projects 2023.
Interpretation
Sustainability And Green Building Interpretation
In WA’s sustainability and green building push, 1,250 LEED certified buildings and 22 completed net zero energy projects by end of 2023 show rapid mainstreaming of high performance construction alongside greener choices like solar in 35% of new builds and water conservation features in 78% of commercial projects.
05 · Category
Workforce And Employment15 stats
01
In 2023, Washington State's construction sector employed 178,450 full-time workers, marking a 4.2% increase from 2022, with residential construction accounting for 42% of jobs.
02
As of Q4 2023, the average hourly wage for construction laborers in Washington was $32.47, 28% above the national average, due to high demand in urban areas like Seattle.
03
Women represented 12.3% of the Washington construction workforce in 2022, up from 10.1% in 2018, with initiatives targeting underrepresented groups.
04
Hispanic or Latino workers comprised 28.7% of Washington's construction employees in 2023, the highest among all industries in the state.
05
In 2022, there were 15,200 apprentices enrolled in Washington construction trade programs, a 15% rise from 2021.
06
Construction unemployment rate in Washington dropped to 3.8% in 2023, compared to the national rate of 4.5%.
07
Over 45% of Washington construction firms reported labor shortages as their top challenge in the 2023 AGC survey.
08
The number of construction managers in Washington reached 12,450 in 2022, with projected 10% growth by 2030.
09
Union membership in Washington construction stood at 22.4% in 2023, higher than the state average of 18.1%.
10
Training hours for safety in Washington construction totaled 2.1 million in 2022 across all firms.
11
Veteran employment in Washington construction hit 8,200 in 2023, supported by hiring incentives.
12
Entry-level construction wages in rural Washington averaged $24.15/hour in 2023, versus $35.20 in Puget Sound.
13
6,350 construction jobs were added in King County alone during 2023.
14
Age demographics show 35% of Washington construction workers under 35 in 2022, indicating workforce rejuvenation.
15
Overtime hours in Washington construction averaged 4.2 hours/week per worker in Q3 2023.
Interpretation
Workforce And Employment Interpretation
In Washington’s construction workforce, employment grew to 178,450 full time workers in 2023, rising 4.2 percent from 2022, while unemployment fell to 3.8 percent, showing a strengthening workforce and hiring environment alongside higher wages and growing apprenticeship enrollment.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Wa Construction Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/wa-construction-industry-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Wa Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/wa-construction-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Wa Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/wa-construction-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
44 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level