According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, residential building workers’ wage growth remained subdued in the first quarter of 2026, a reflection of easing construction activity and labor demand. Wages remain strong relative to other industries, at 8.4% higher than the manufacturing sector, 22.4% higher than the transportation and warehousing sector and 3.6% lower than the mining and logging sector.
Both nominal and inflation-adjusted wage gains remained calm.
Average hourly earnings for residential building workers increased 2.1% year-over-year in March, down from the 9.4% peak in mid-2024. Accounting for inflation, real wages declined 1.2% year over year in March. Real wage growth has softened since reaching a peak of 6.2% in 2024, coinciding with the slowdown in construction activity
