Nashville ranks as a top metro for construction labor wages compared to peer cities in Southeast

At the beginning of the year, the number of construction job vacancies jumped 120,000 in the US, as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor. In contrast, hiring dropped by 18,000, suggesting a lack of available skilled workers. Consequently, some construction projects are experiencing delays, due in part to the workforce shortage.
Since the pandemic, the wage disparity across all Southeast markets has diminished, signaling competitive labor conditions among Southeast metros. This suggests that the quantity of work is becoming less influential in determining pay, with competition for workers becoming a more critical factor.
With permit values reaching new records every year since 2019, developers in Nashville have been scurrying to keep pace with the exponential population and job growth. Amidst construction labor shortages, Nashville ranks as a top metro for construction labor wages when compared to peer cities in the Southeast, increasing 3% in the last year to $19.91/hr.

June 5, 2023

US-TN-NSH Nashville