Industry employment down year over year in Washington

Between August 2024 and August 2025, 28 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs, 19 states shed jobs — including 11,100 jobs lost in Washington state — and employment remained unchanged in one state, North Dakota, according to a labor analysis of federal employment data by the Associated General Contractors of America. 

Texas added the most construction jobs, 18,500 jobs; followed by Ohio, which added 13,600 jobs; Virginia, 12,700 jobs; and North Carolina, 8,000 jobs. New Mexico had the largest employment percentage gain over 12 months, up 13.3%, or 7,200 jobs; followed by West Virginia, 9.3%, or 3,100 jobs; Alaska, 8.8%, or 1,600 jobs; and Idaho 6.8%, or 4,900 jobs. 

Between July and August, industry employment increased in 19 states, declined in 29 states, and was unchanged in Nebraska, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. Month over month, Florida added the most construction jobs, up 3,600; followed by Maryland, 2,700 jobs; and Tennessee, 2,000 jobs. The largest percentage gain occurred in Mississippi, which increased 3.1%, or 1,600 jobs, followed by Rhode Island, up 2.2%, or 500 jobs, and Maryland.

The majority of contractors in many states are struggling to fill open positions, according to the 2025 AGC of America-NCCER Workforce Survey. Association officials noted that 92% of firms report having a hard time filling open positions, and 45% of firms reported they had to delay at least one of their projects because of labor shortages, the top reason for project delays cited by contractors. 

Construction officials urged federal leaders to boost funding for construction education and training and create more lawful pathways for people to enter the country to work in construction.

“Most firms are struggling to find enough workers to hire amid persistent labor shortages,” says Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “These labor shortages are the number one cause for delayed construction projects, according to our recent survey.”

More women are working in the construction sector

Even while the construction industry continues facing a skilled labor shortage, more women are working in the construction fields, reports the National Association of Home Builders. 

In 2024, women comprised 11.2% of the construction workforce, the highest share in two decades. Last year, 1.34 million women worked in construction, up 18.6% above the 1.13 million women workers in the industry in 2006. The share of female construction employees has been on the rise since 2012, following losses of the workforce after the 2008 Great Recession.

Many women in the industry have roles as office and administrative support, management, and business and financial operations. Women held a low number of construction and maintenance occupations, however, at 4% of the workforce.

Habitat for Humanity-Spokane Women Build commences

More than 60% of Habitat for Humanity-Spokane homebuyers are women heads of household. 

To raise awareness and support the challenges many women face in attaining homeownership, volunteers and community members are coming together to build affordable homes through Habitat for Humanity-Spokane’s Women Build event, which started Oct. 8 and will conclude Oct. 11, in Spokane.

The four-day build event is a twice-a-year tradition dedicated to creating safe, healthy, and permanently affordable homes each March and October in Spokane County.

STCU is the 2025 presenting sponsor for Women Build. Other key partners include Spokane-based Inland Construction & Development Co., which does business as Inland Group; Traci Bemis Real Estate LLC, of Spokane; and the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and Northern Quest Resort & Casino.

"Supporting Women Build honors the generations of women who refused to accept that stability was out of reach," says Michelle Girardot, CEO of Habitat for Humanity-Spokane, in a press release. "When we raise walls together, we raise hope — and build a future where every woman and every family can stand on the solid ground of home."

Habitat for Humanity-Spokane was founded in 1987 to bring people together to build homes and community. To date, the organization has completed 450-plus homes, advancing permanent affordability, economic mobility, and communities of opportunity for income-qualified buyers.

Emerson Garfield-area apartment property sells for $2.1M

Commercial real estate brokerage Marcus & Millichap recently announced the sale of Lincoln Townhomes, a 10-unit apartment property located at 3270 N. Lincoln, in Spokane’s Emerson Garfield neighborhood. The building, constructed in 2017, sold for $2.1 million, according to a press release from the brokerage.

Zach Howe, an investment specialist in Marcus & Millichap’s Seattle office, represented the buyer, Koch Farm Investment LLC, of St. Paul, Oregon, Washington state tax records show.

The transaction was the up-leg to the buyer’s 1031 exchange, according to the release. They were motivated to trade out of a 1960’s vintage apartment that they had owned and managed for 20 years and purchase a newer property with third-party management. 

Howe assisted buyers with the sale of their apartment complex in Ellensburg, Washington, and sourced their 1031 exchange up-leg off-market in Spokane.

The Lincoln Townhomes property was constructed in 2017 and features 10 two-bedroom townhome units with an average of 1,050 square feet. 

Construction backlog declines from July to August

Associated Builders & Contractors’ Construction Backlog Indicator fell from 8.8 months in July to 8.5 months in August, according to an ABC member survey conducted Aug. 20 to Sept. 3. The reading is up 0.3 months since August 2024.

The monthly decline in backlog was entirely attributable to contractors with under $30 million in annual revenues, according to the report. Backlog has risen in each of the past three months for ABC’s largest contractors and is now at the highest level in over two years.

ABC’s Construction Confidence Index reading for sales was unchanged in August. The reading for staffing declined, while the reading for profit margins increased. The readings for all three components remain above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations for growth over the next six months.

“The dip in backlog observed in August is not surprising given ongoing declines in nonresidential construction spending,” says Anirban Basu, ABC chief economist, in a press release.

He adds that about 1 in 4 contractors reported having a project delayed or canceled due to tariffs, similar to a share of reported project delays or cancellations due to lack of funding and workforce issues.

"While contractor confidence was stable for the month, it will be interesting to see how long this optimism persists if the myriad headwinds facing the industry remain in place," he says.