California Female Construction Workers Earn Adjusted $59K per Year
October 14, 2025
The U.S. construction industry experienced a surge in demand in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic. The intense real estate market during the pandemic highlighted the shortage of housing stock across the United States. Between 2020 and 2022, private construction spending rose rapidly, fueled by a wave of new housing starts. In April 2022, housing starts reached their highest level in more than 15 years before declining to pre-pandemic levels as mortgage rates climbed. And just as private construction activity began to plateau, funding for public projects became available—most notably through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—driving growth in public-sector construction spending.
Today, however, the outlook for the construction industry is less certain amid economic headwinds, including a softening labor market, foreign import tariffs, and persistently high interest rates. Despite these challenges, construction firms continue to face severe labor shortages. The Associated Builders and Contractors, a leading industry trade group, estimated a shortfall of 439,000 workers. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 306,000 openings for construction jobs as of July 2025.
