Washington Construction Employment Holds Steady, If Unspectacular, Growth
Washington’s construction sector added jobs at a modest but consistent clip through the first half of 2026. Employment in the industry reached 228,000 jobs in the second quarter, according to the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, reflecting an average annual growth rate of roughly 0.82% since 2024 — a pace that trails the state’s overall job growth rate.
It’s not a dramatic number, but it’s a useful data point for anyone gauging where Washington’s construction labor market stands relative to Oregon’s, especially set against Oregon’s stronger housing-starts growth reported this same week. Steady-but-below-average growth suggests Washington’s construction employers aren’t shedding workers, but also aren’t seeing the kind of hiring surge that would signal a construction boom.
Source: Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, “Steady job growth for WA construction,” Aug. 2026 — https://www.djc.com/news/co/12177267.html
