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Definition: NAICS 23, Construction

The Construction sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in the construction of buildings or engineering projects (e.g., highways and utility systems). Establishments primarily engaged in the preparation of sites for new construction and establishments primarily engaged in subdividing land for sale as building sites also are included in this sector.

Construction work done may include new work, additions, alterations, or maintenance and repairs. Activities of these establishments generally are managed at a fixed place of business, but they usually perform construction activities at multiple project sites. Production responsibilities for establishments in this sector are usually specified in (1) contracts with the owners of construction projects (prime contracts) or (2) contracts with other construction establishments (subcontracts).   more

Guide to Data Sources for Construction from the U.S. Census Bureau

Frequency Title (with link to data) Contents Number of Industry Categories Geography
Monthly Building Permits Housing units authorized by building permits for new residential construction
N/A
U.S., states, metro areas, counties, permit-issuing places
New Residential Construction Starts and completions of new single- and multi-family housing units
N/A
U.S., 4 regions
New Residential Sales Sales of new one-family houses, median and average sales prices
N/A
U.S., 4 regions
Manufactured Housing Estimates of new manufactured (mobile) homes placed for residential use and dealer inventories
N/A
U.S., regions, divisions, states
Construction Spending Estimates of the total dollar value of construction work done in the U.S.
N/A
U.S.
Monthly and Quarterly Construction Price Indexes Price indexes for new one-family houses sold or under construction
N/A
U.S.
Quarterly Quarterly Workforce Indicators Employment, job creation, separations, turnover, average monthly earnings
14
States, metro areas, counties
Annual Characteristics of New Housing Characteristics (floor area, number of bathrooms, type of heating system, exterior wall material, etc.) of new one-family houses or multi-family buildings completed; charactersitics of new one-family houses sold
N/A
U.S.. 4 regions
Annual Capital Expenditures Survey Capital expenditures for structures and equipment for companies with paid employees
4
U.S.
Information and Communication Technology Survey Non-capitalized expenditures for information and communication technology equipment and software
1
U.S.
County Business Patterns Employees; payroll; number of establishments with paid employees by employment size of establishment
73
U.S., states, metro areas, counties, ZIP codes, Puerto Rico
Nonemployer Statistics Number of establishments and sales of firms with no paid employees
20
U.S., states, metro areas, counties
Statistics of U.S. Businesses Number of firms, employees, payroll, (and revenue, for 2002 only) by employment-size of the enterprise
73
U.S., states, metro areas
Statistics of U.S. Businesses -- Employment Change Number of establishments and year-to-year change in employment for births, deaths, expansions, and contractions.
14
U.S., states, metro areas, counties
Business Dynamics Statistics Number of establishments and year-to-year change in employments for births, death, expansions, and contractions by firm age and employment-size. Sector classification is by SIC.
1
U.S., states
Every 5 years Economic Census Number of establishments, sales, employees, and payroll (for additional topics available, see Economic Census details)
75
U.S., states, island areas
Economic Census of Island Areas Number of establishments, sales, employees, and payroll for establishments with payroll
Varies
Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa
Survey of Business Owners Number of firms, sales, employees, and payroll for all businesses and for businesses owned by females, Hispanics, and major race categories (plus national-only data on veteran status and other owner and business characteristics)
4
U.S., states, metro areas

 
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Link to Industry SnapshotsIndustry Snapshots Get data for this sector
from the Economic Census

Source: U.S. Census Bureau | Business and Industry | (301)763-2547 | econ@census.gov | Last Revised: January 14, 2015