Washington’s construction industry spans housing, commercial space, and public works. In 2022, it contributed $28.4B to state GDP (7.2%) and produced $52.7B in gross output. By 2023, total construction spending climbed to $45.2B (+6.8%) and employment rose by 4.2%, even as safety remains critical—fatalities and injuries cluster in high-risk scenarios. The page explains what’s driving demand, jobs, and efficiency gains.
Key Takeaways
- Construction permits issued totaled 89,200 in Washington 2023, value $38.5 billion
- Single-family housing starts 22,400 units in 2023, down 8% from 2022
- Multifamily units permitted 15,600 in 2023, value $7.2 billion
- Washington's construction industry contributed $28.4 billion to GDP in 2022, representing 7.2% of state GDP
- Construction sector gross output reached $52.7 billion in Washington in 2022
- Total construction spending in Washington was $45.2 billion in 2023, up 6.8% from 2022
- In 2023, Washington state's construction industry employed 198,400 workers, accounting for 5.8% of total nonfarm employment
- Construction employment in Washington grew by 4.2% from 2022 to 2023, adding 8,000 jobs
- Average hourly wage for construction workers in Washington was $32.45 in May 2023, higher than the national average of $28.12
- Washington's construction industry projected 3.5% annual employment growth through 2030
- Modular construction market to grow 12% CAGR to 2028 in WA
- Sustainable building certifications (LEED) increased 22% to 450 projects 2023
- Washington's construction fatality rate was 12.4 per 100,000 full-time workers in 2022
- Total reportable construction injuries 8,200 cases in WA 2022
- Fall from height incidents accounted for 42% of construction fatalities 2018-2022
Construction spending rose 6.8% in 2023 to $45.2 billion as housing starts fell and jobs grew.
Related reading
01 · Category
Construction Projects And Permits25 stats
01
Construction permits issued totaled 89,200 in Washington 2023, value $38.5 billion
02
Single-family housing starts 22,400 units in 2023, down 8% from 2022
03
Multifamily units permitted 15,600 in 2023, value $7.2 billion
04
Office building permits $2.1 billion valuation 2023
05
Retail commercial permits 4,200 projects, $1.8 billion total 2023
06
Manufacturing facilities permits value $3.4 billion in 2023
07
Highway and street construction contracts awarded $2.9 billion 2023
08
WSDOT awarded 1,250 construction contracts totaling $4.1 billion in 2023
09
King County issued 45,600 building permits in 2023
10
Seattle residential permits 12,800 units authorized 2023
11
New hotel/motel construction permits $850 million value 2023
12
Educational building permits $1.9 billion in WA 2023
13
Healthcare facility permits 2,100 projects, $2.3 billion 2023
14
Religious buildings permits value $210 million 2023
15
Amusement/recreation permits $650 million valuation 2023
16
Public safety construction permits $450 million 2023
17
Transportation terminal permits $1.2 billion value 2023
18
Water supply/sewer permits 3,400 projects, $1.7 billion 2023
19
Sound Transit light rail extensions under construction 15 miles in 2023
20
I-5 corridor improvement projects 12 active, $1.8 billion total 2023
21
Demolition permits issued 8,900 in WA 2023
22
Renovation/alteration permits value $12.6 billion 2023
23
New privately-owned housing units authorized 38,200 in 2023
24
Commercial/industrial permits in Spokane County 1,450, $950 million 2023
25
Pierce County building permits 28,400 issued 2023
Interpretation
Construction Projects And Permits Interpretation
In 2023, Washington issued 89,200 construction permits totaling $38.5 billion, while single-family housing starts fell to 22,400 units down 8% from 2022, signaling a cooling residential pipeline within the Construction Projects and Permits picture.
02 · Category
Economic Contributions24 stats
01
Washington's construction industry contributed $28.4 billion to GDP in 2022, representing 7.2% of state GDP
02
Construction sector gross output reached $52.7 billion in Washington in 2022
03
Total construction spending in Washington was $45.2 billion in 2023, up 6.8% from 2022
04
Residential construction value added $12.1 billion to WA economy in 2022
05
Nonresidential construction contributed $16.3 billion to GDP in 2022
06
Construction taxes paid to state totaled $1.8 billion in FY2023
07
Associated General Contractors of Washington reported member firms generated $20.5 billion in revenue 2022
08
Heavy construction segment output $15.4 billion in 2022
09
Specialty trade contractors contributed $22.6 billion in value added 2022
10
Construction payroll taxes amounted to $2.9 billion in Washington 2023
11
Multiplier effect of construction spending estimated at 2.8x for WA economy
12
Construction supported 1 in 17 jobs statewide through direct and indirect effects 2022
13
Private construction investment $32.8 billion in 2023
14
Public sector construction spending $12.4 billion in FY2023
15
Construction exports (services) valued at $1.2 billion from WA in 2022
16
Construction industry sales tax revenue $850 million in 2023
17
Foundation, structure, building exterior contractors revenue $10.3 billion 2022
18
Electrical contractors revenue $6.7 billion in WA 2023 estimate
19
Plumbing contractors $4.2 billion revenue 2022
20
Construction material wholesale $8.9 billion sales 2023
21
Property tax from new construction added $450 million annually
22
Construction R&D expenditure $320 million in WA 2022
23
Venture capital in WA construction tech $150 million in 2023
24
Induced economic impact from construction wages $9.6 billion 2022
Interpretation
Economic Contributions Interpretation
In the Economic Contributions category, Washington’s construction industry delivered $28.4 billion to GDP in 2022 and saw total spending rise to $45.2 billion in 2023, up 6.8 percent from the year before, underscoring its growing economic impact alongside $1.8 billion in state taxes in FY2023.
03 · Category
Employment Statistics29 stats
01
In 2023, Washington state's construction industry employed 198,400 workers, accounting for 5.8% of total nonfarm employment
02
Construction employment in Washington grew by 4.2% from 2022 to 2023, adding 8,000 jobs
03
Average hourly wage for construction workers in Washington was $32.45in May 2023, higher than the national average of $28.12
04
Heavy and civil engineering construction subsector employed 25,600 workers in Washington in 2023
05
12.5% of Washington's construction workforce were women in 2022, up from 10.8% in 2018
06
There were 4,200 apprenticeship registrations in construction trades in Washington in 2023
07
Hispanic or Latino workers comprised 28.3% of Washington's construction workforce in 2022
08
Construction supervisors in Washington earned a mean annual wage of $92,500in 2023
09
15,300 construction laborers were employed in the Seattle metro area in 2023
10
Union membership rate in Washington's construction industry was 22.4% in 2022
11
Carpenter employment in Washington totaled 18,900 in May 2023 with mean wage $28.75/hour
12
Electricians in construction numbered 12,400 in Washington, average wage $38.20/hour in 2023
13
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters employment was 9,800 with $40.15/hour mean wage
14
Operating engineers and equipment operators: 11,200 employed, $35.60/hour average
15
Construction managers: 7,500 employed statewide, mean annual $128,400
16
Ironworkers employment grew 5.1% year-over-year to 2,100 in 2023
17
Sheet metal workers: 3,400 employed, $32.80/hour mean wage
18
Roofers: 2,900 workers, average $26.45/hour
19
Painters and paperhangers: 5,200 employed, $24.90/hour mean
20
Drywall installers: 3,100 workers, $28.15/hour average wage 2023
21
Glaziers: 1,800 employed, $29.40/hour mean
22
Construction and building inspectors: 1,200 workers, $42.50/hour
23
Highway maintenance workers: 2,500 in construction-related roles, $31.20/hour
24
Cost estimators in construction: 4,100 employed, $38.75/hour mean wage
25
First-line supervisors of construction trades: 14,500 workers, $42.10/hour
26
Boilermakers: 450 employed in WA construction, $38.90/hour average
27
Brickmasons and blockmasons: 1,100 workers, $30.25/hour mean
28
Cement masons: 4,500 employed, $29.80/hour
29
Paving equipment operators: 1,200 workers, $34.50/hour average 2023
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
In Washington, employment in the construction industry rose 4.2% from 2022 to 2023 adding 8,000 jobs to reach 198,400 workers, while wages also ran above the national average at $32.45 per hour in May 2023, reinforcing steady job growth under the Employment Statistics category.
More related reading
04 · Category
Industry Trends And Outlook24 stats
01
Washington's construction industry projected 3.5% annual employment growth through 2030
02
Modular construction market to grow 12% CAGR to 2028 in WA
03
Sustainable building certifications (LEED) increased 22% to 450 projects 2023
04
Prefabrication adoption rose to 35% of projects by value 2023
05
Labor shortage projected 25,000 unfilled construction jobs by 2025
06
BIM usage in WA construction projects reached 78% in 2023
07
Drone usage for site surveys up 45% to 1,200 firms 2023
08
Green construction materials market $2.1B projected 2025
09
Off-site construction share to reach 25% by 2027
10
Construction tech investments $280M in WA startups 2023
11
Pandemic recovery led to 15% backlog increase to $45B 2023
12
Electrification projects backlog $8.2B for 2024-2028
13
Mass timber projects permitted 28 in 2023, up 50%
14
AI predictive analytics adopted by 42% large contractors 2023
15
Supply chain disruptions impacted 68% projects, avg delay 4 months 2023
16
Net-zero building mandates drive 30% cost premium 2023
17
Robotics in masonry/bricklaying tested in 15 WA projects 2023
18
Digital twin technology in 22% megaprojects 2023
19
Workforce aging: 35% workers over 50, retirement wave 2025
20
Material costs rose 11% YoY for steel/concrete 2023
21
Insurance premiums up 18% for high-risk trades 2023
22
Public-private partnerships (P3) 8 new projects valued $6B 2023-2025
23
3D printing for housing pilots 5 sites, 120 units 2023
24
Cybersecurity incidents in construction up 29% to 420 cases 2023
Interpretation
Industry Trends And Outlook Interpretation
Washington’s construction outlook is trending toward higher tech and sustainability adoption, with BIM usage reaching 78% in 2023 and LEED certifications rising 22% to 450 projects, even as the state faces an expected 25,000 unfilled jobs by 2025.
05 · Category
Safety Records28 stats
01
Washington's construction fatality rate was 12.4 per 100,000 full-time workers in 2022
02
Total reportable construction injuries 8,200 cases in WA 2022
03
Fall from height incidents accounted for 42% of construction fatalities 2018-2022
04
Struck-by incidents 1,450 cases in construction 2022
05
L&I issued 2,400 construction safety citations in 2023, fines $4.2 million
06
Construction OSHA recordable injury rate 2.8 per 100 workers 2022
07
95% of construction firms with safety programs reduced incidents by 25% avg 2023
08
Electrical fatalities 18 in WA construction 2019-2022 average
09
Crane-related incidents 12 reported 2023
10
Trenching collapse fatalities 5 in WA construction 2022
11
Heat-related illnesses in construction 320 cases 2023 summer
12
Silica exposure violations 450 citations 2023
13
Ladder fall injuries 1,100 cases annually avg 2020-2023
14
Musculoskeletal disorders 3,800 construction cases 2022
15
Respirable crystalline silica training completed by 85% of firms 2023
16
WA construction safety inspections 15,200 conducted 2023
17
Fatality rate for roofers 28.1 per 100k workers 2022
18
Structural iron/steel workers fatality rate 21.4 per 100k 2022
19
Lost workday cases rate 1.2 per 100 workers 2022
20
Safety incentive program participation 1,800 firms 2023
21
Drug/alcohol testing post-incident 92% compliance 2023
22
Forklift overturn incidents 210 cases 2022
23
Scaffolding violations 680 citations 2023, fines $1.1M
24
Lockout/tagout violations 320 in construction 2023
25
PPE non-compliance 1,900 citations 2023
26
Excavation safety training reached 12,500 workers 2023
27
Construction industry adopted zero-fatality goal, 15% reduction since 2019
28
Confined space incidents 180 cases 2022
Interpretation
Safety Records Interpretation
Washington’s construction safety picture shows both the toll and the focus area, with a 12.4 fatality rate per 100,000 full time workers in 2022 and fall from height responsible for 42% of fatalities from 2018 to 2022.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). Washington Construction Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/washington-construction-industry-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "Washington Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/washington-construction-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "Washington Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/washington-construction-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
35 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level