• While overall employment in the State of Michigan increased 1.43% between 1997 and 2002, employment within the construction industry rose by 17.04%, creating 31,897 new construction jobs in 5 years.

• According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 187,135 individuals employed in the construction industry in Michigan in 1997 and 219,032 in 2002, an increase of 17.04% in 5 years.

• According to Union Membership and Coverage Database, available at www.unionstats.com, in 2005, only 24.6% of the private construction workforce belonged to a construction trade union. 

• While the average worker in Michigan brought home $35,783 in pay in 2002, the state’s construction workers made on average $37,020, an increase of 3.34% more than the average worker in Michigan. 

• Construction employees in Michigan made $37,020 on average in 2002, compared to $35,352, the national average salary in 2002 for construction workers across the United States.

• Of the 928 new businesses established between 1997 and 2002 in Michigan, 615 or 66.27% of those establishments were in the construction industry.

• According to Union Membership and Coverage Database, available at www.unionstats.com, in 2006, only 22.1 percent of Michigan’s private construction workforce belonged to a construction trade union.  That means that approximately 77 out of 100 Michigan’s private construction workers do not belong to a labor union.

Data are from the U.S. Bureau of the Census except where noted

• Michigan is a prevailing wage state. There is no dollar threshold amount for contract coverage under state prevailing wage law in Michigan.