Seattle, WA

Seattle has made the ambitious pledge of divesting from fossil fuels by 2030 and becoming completely carbon neutral by 2050.

Both dates are approaching quickly. Fortunately, like seismic ordinances in LA, this presents a tremendous opportunity for the construction industry. Buildings will need to be renovated to comply with climate laws, light-rail lines will need to be built to tie neighborhoods together without cars, and new, sustainable sources of energy will be needed as well. City officials have made big investments in trams, light-rail, and mixed-use developments, betting that these will get residents out of their cars and living more sustainably.  

The residential sector makes up the largest chunk of construction volume here by a wide margin. Within the residential sector, almost 40% of spending is on renovations. This should only increase in the coming years as the city tries to meet its emissions targets. Construction labor has steadily grown to meet this demand, but this has not been enough to keep costs from rising. Many contractors have been looking to nearby cities for the labor needed for their projects.  

* Other structures include religious buildings, amusement, government communications, and public recreation projects.