Framing Contractors NAICS 238130

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Industry Summary
The 12,200 framing contractors in the US erect the structural framing and sheathing in buildings, using primarily wood. Single family homes account for 49% of industry sales. Other types of projects include apartment buildings and commercial buildings (stores, restaurants, gas stations, parking garages).
Vulnerability to Trends in the Housing Market
The framing contracting industry is primarily dependent on upstream demand from the residential construction industry, which is cyclical and sensitive to economic conditions.
Dependence on Skilled Labor
Framing contractors rely on a skilled labor force willing to perform physically demanding work in all types of weather conditions.
Recent Developments
May 7, 2025 - Home Builders Boost Incentives to Lure Wary Buyers
- US home builders are dangling more incentives to close deals amid a tepid spring home-buying season that is halfway over, according to The Wall Street Journal. Builders typically notch 40% of their annual sales during the spring, but mortgage rates that are stuck around 7% and a lack of affordability have reduced demand. Builders have increased incentives to bring buyers off the sidelines, including mortgage-rate buydowns, design upgrades, and price cuts. In the first two weeks of April, incentives offered by builders equaled 7.2% of the purchase price, up from 6.1% in January, according to data from John Burns Research & Consulting. Incentives are eating into builder profits during a season that usually sees few discounts, and prices tend to rise. Soft demand for new homes is expected to worsen as the effects of tariffs take hold, potentially adding between $5,000 and $15,000 to the cost of a new home.
- Home builder confidence in the single-family market remained in negative territory in April 2025 amid mounting concerns about tariff threats, higher input costs, and economic uncertainty, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). As measured by the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), home builder sentiment rose one point to 40 in March from 39 the previous month. Any HMI reading over 50 indicates that more builders see conditions as good than poor. Builders face headwinds, including high materials costs being made worse by trade strife and labor and lot shortages. Trade policy uncertainty makes it difficult for builders to price homes accurately and engage in basic business planning.
- North American construction and engineering spending in 2025 is expected to grow by 3% after increasing an estimated 7% in 2024, according to FMI’s second-quarter 2025 North American Engineering and Construction Outlook. Nonresidential building construction spending is forecast to be flat in 2025 as growth in amusement and recreation (+7%), transportation (+3%), public safety (+3%), and educational (+3%) is offset by weakness in commercial (-7%), lodging (-5%), and manufacturing (-1%). Amid high mortgage interest rates and a lack of affordability, single-family construction spending is forecast to rise by 3% in 2025. A recent jump in new apartment supply and unfavorable cost conditions will reduce multifamily spending by 12% in 2025.
- Home remodeling spending is expected to see slight gains through 2026 after two years of weakening expenditures, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) report released in April by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard. Homeowner improvements and repairs are expected to increase 0.8% to $505 billion in the second quarter of 2025 compared to Q2 2024. In the third quarter of 2025, remodeling spending will rise to $506 billion, up 1.4% from Q3 2024. Spending will then increase to $512 billion in Q4 2025, up 1.8% from Q4 2024. In the first quarter of 2026, year-over-year spending is forecast to rise 2.8% to a record $526 billion. Joint Center expects improvements to be supported by increasing home values, a steady labor market, and gradually improving existing home sales. However, uncertainty stemming from trade strife and waning consumer confidence could put downward pressure on remodeling demand.
Industry Revenue
Framing Contractors

Industry Structure
Industry size & Structure
The average framing contractor operates out of a single location, employs 7 workers, and generates about $1.4 million annually.
- The framing contracting industry consists of about 12,200 establishments that employ about 83,500 workers and generate about $16.6 billion annually.
- The industry is fragmented. Most firms are small, independent operators; over 70% of firms generate less than $500,000 annually.
- The framing stage accounts for 20.5% of construction costs, the second highest cost category, after interior finishes, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Of the detailed items in new home construction, framing and trusses accounted for the largest share of costs (18.4%).
Industry Forecast
Industry Forecast
Framing Contractors Industry Growth

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