Share of Wood-Framed Homes Dips in 2023
Wood framing remains the most dominant construction method for completed single-family homes in the U.S., according to NAHB analysis of 2023 Census Bureau data. For 2023 completions, 93% of new homes were wood-framed, another 7% were concrete-framed homes, and less than half a percent were steel-framed.
On a count basis, there were 930,000 wood-framed homes completed in 2023. This was a 3% decrease compared to the 2022 total. The wood-framed market share decreased to 93% in 2023, after it increased for three consecutive years from 2019 (90%) to 2022 (94%). As noted above, steel-framed homes are relatively uncommon, with 3,000 housing completions in 2023, the same amount as the 2021 and 2022 completions.
Meanwhile, the concrete-framed market share increased from 6% in 2022 to 7% in 2023. On a count basis, there were 65,000 concrete-framed homes completed in 2023, up 3% from the previous year. This is the first increase after three straight years of declines (down 13% in 2020, 5% in 2021 and 11% in 2022).
Jing Fu, NAHB director of forecasting and analysis, provides more in this Eye on Housing post.
Latest from NAHBNow
Advocacy
Jun 10, 2025
NAHB Urges HUD Secretary to Keep and Fully Fund Key Housing ProgramsNAHB sent a letter to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner on June 4 underscoring the important role that HUD’s rental assistance and new construction programs play in making housing opportunities available for low-to moderate-income Americans.
Economics | Home Builders Institute
Jun 10, 2025
New Study Reveals Significant Economic Impact of Housing Industry Labor ShortageA landmark study released today from the Home Builders Institute (HBI), in collaboration with NAHB, examines the economic impact of the skilled labor shortage for the single-family home building sector. The findings indicate that the skilled labor shortage’s impact on the residential construction industry is a multibillion-dollar annual challenge that is responsible for the lost production of thousands of newly built homes.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Jun 10, 2025
House Price Appreciation by State and Metro Area: First Quarter 2025House price growth slowed in the first quarter of 2025, partly due to a decline in demand and an increase in supply. Persistent high mortgage rates and increased inventory combined to ease upward pressure on house prices. These factors signaled a cooling market, following rapid gains seen in previous years.
Economics
Jun 09, 2025
AI’s Role in Reshaping Employment: From Theory to Home Building Sector ImpactsThe rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly machine learning and generative AI (GenAI), is reshaping industries, creating new economic opportunities, and raising critical questions about its long-term impact on jobs and economic growth.
Economics
Jun 06, 2025
U.S. Economy Added 139,000 Jobs in MayDespite ongoing economic and policy uncertainty, the labor market remains resilient, though early signs of softening are beginning to emerge. Job growth moderated in May, and employment figures for March and April were notably revised downward. The unemployment rate remained at 4.2%.