• While overall employment in the State of New Jersey increased 8.68% between 1997 and 2002, employment within the construction industry rose by 46.64%, creating 66,993 new construction jobs and 1,511 new construction establishments in 5 years.

• According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 143,627 individuals employed in the construction industry in New Jersey in 1997 and 210,620 in 2002, an increase of 46.64% in 5 years.   

• Construction employees in New Jersey made $39,264 on average in 2002, compared to $35,352, the national average salary in 2002 for construction workers across the United States.   

• The number of businesses in New Jersey grew from 194,118 in 1997 to 199,456 in 2002, an increase of 2.75%.  Construction establishments in New Jersey however, increased by 6.84% from 22,102 in 1997 to 23,613 in 2002.

• Of the 5,338 new businesses established between 1997 and 2002 in New Jersey, 1,511 or 28.31% of those establishments were in the construction industry. 

• According to Union Membership and Coverage Database, available at www.unionstats.com, in 2006, only 28.9 percent of New Jersey’s private construction workforce belonged to a construction trade union.  That means that approximately 71 out of 100 New Jersey’s private construction workers do not belong to a labor union.

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

• The dollar threshold amount for contract coverage under state prevailing wage laws in New Jersey is $2000 or $10,743 if the work is done for a municipality.