• While overall employment in the State of Rhode Island increased 5.73% between 1997 and 2002, employment within the construction industry rose by 59.87%, creating 10,219 new construction jobs and 132 new construction establishments in 5 years.

• According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 17,070 individuals employed in the construction industry in Rhode Island in 1997 and 27,289 in 2002, an increase of 59.87% in 5 years. 

• While the average worker in Rhode Island brought home $31,801 in pay in 2002, the state’s construction workers made on average $32,450, an increase of 2.00% more than the average worker in Rhode Island.   

• The number of businesses in Rhode Island grew from 24,373 in 1997 to 24,782 in 2002, an increase of 1.68%.  Construction establishments in Rhode Island however, increased by 4.31% from 3,060 in 1997 to 3,192 in 2002.

• Of the 409 new businesses established between 1997 and 2002 in Rhode Island, 132 or 32.27% of those establishments were in the construction industry.

• According to Union Membership and Coverage Database, available at www.unionstats.com, in 2006, only 16.5 percent of Rhode Island’s private construction workforce belonged to a construction trade union.  That means that approximately 83 out of 100 Rhode Island’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 Rhode Island is $1,000.