In Tennessee, 4.2% of all wage and salary workers work in construction. Out of all states, Tennessee has the 8th smallest share of employment in construction.

As everyone realizes, the COVID-19 pandemic has had sweeping impacts on the economy and virtually every industry sector. While the construction industry has weathered the storm better than some hard-hit industries—such as leisure and hospitality—construction is facing some unique challenges.

While construction jobs account for 5.2 percent of all jobs nationally (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), some cities rely more heavily on the construction industry for employment.

During the Great Recession that lasted from late-2007 to mid-2009, construction employment fell by 20 percent and then continued to fall until early 2010. It then steadily increased until early 2020.

In looking specificly at the impact of COVID-19, employment in the construction industry fell sharply in the spring during the early stages of the pandemic. It started rebounding in May but is still below pre-pandemic levels. Compared to a year ago, construction employment is currently down 2.4 percent.

During the Pandemic thus far, Tennessee has seen a 1.3% decline in construction related jobs. That number is significantly better when compared to the United States as a whole. 

This may come as a surprise to some, due to the fact that many hardware stores saw an increase in sales by mid pandemic. However, those sales were often for projects that consumers took upon themselves to complete.

The analysis found that in Tennessee, 4.2% of all wage and salary workers work in construction. Out of all states, Tennessee has the 8th smallest share of employment in construction. 

Here is a summary of the data for Tennessee:

- Share of employment in construction: 4.2%
- Share of employment in construction (compared to average): -18.9%
- Total number of construction employees: 128,300
- Year-over-year change in construction employment: -1.3%

For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:

- Share of employment in construction: 5.2%
- Share of employment in construction (compared to average): N/A
- Total number of construction employees: 7,430,000
- Year-over-year change in construction employment: -2.4%

For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on Construction Coverage’s website: https://constructioncoverage.com/research/cities-with-the-most-construction-jobs