Construction Labor Force Ages, Gen Z Filling the Gap

The median age of the construction labor force is 42, a year older than a typical worker in the national labor force, according to an analysis of the most recent 2023 American Community Survey from the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Eye on Housing.

The median age of the construction varies across states. The state with the oldest median age is Alaska at 46 years old, followed by Maine and Connecticut, both at 45 years old. In the central U.S., the median age tends to be younger, with 39 as the median age in Utah, Arkansas and Texas.

The report also reveals that Gen Z workers are more likely to enter the construction industry than millennials, due to factors such as modern construction technologies, high college education costs, competitive wages in construction, job security and potential for growth.

The share of Gen Z in the construction workforce has increased from 6.4% in 2019 to 14.1% in 2023, while millennials grew from 35.7% to 37.7% and Gen X declined from 36.6% to 33.7%.