New home construction in the United States is on the upswing. Six of the top 10 fastest-growing industries in the country are related to home construction. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau report that there were 930,000 new homes completed in January 2015. This is 9.4 percent more than the number of new homes completed a year ago in January 2014. Structures with five or more units also saw an increase from 764,400 in 2013 to 883,000 in 2014. The financial information company Sageworks. has compiled a list of the fastest-growing industries based on annual sales increases. This year, real estate and broker offices top the list, followed by a variety of construction and utility-related industries.

1. Real Estate and Broker Offices

Real estate and broker offices saw a 30 percent increase in profits during the 12 months that ended on September 25, 2014 according to a Sageworks private company report, “Industries with the Strongest Earnings Growth.”

2. Residential Building Construction

There was a 5.3 percent increase in the initiation of privately owned residential building construction from December 2013 to December 2014. The total number of single-family residential units to begin construction in 2014 is about 1,005,800, up 8.8 percent from the previous year.

3. Other Wood Product Manufacturing

Part of homes and buildings including stairs, borders, flooring, banisters, cabinets, doors, and decks contribute to this industry. Due to the rise in new residence construction, the price of southern pine saw timber has increased annually by $2 per ton since 2012.

4. Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors

The contractors who install the wood products above among other duties make up the fourth fastest growing industry in 2014. This category consists of the specialty trades working on the foundation, frame, and shell of buildings.

5. Utility System Construction

Where there are new homes, there is a need for water, gas, electricity, sewage systems, and communication lines.

6. Lumber and Other Construction Materials Merchant Wholesalers

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, sales in this sector from January through November of 2014 were $114,806,000. an increase of 1.6 percent compared to the previous year.

7. Computer System Design and Related Services

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, a 15 percent rise in employment in this field is expected from 2012 through 2022.

8. Other Specialty Trade Contractors

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that there were 63,214 businesses in this segment in 2012, the most recent year totals are available at press time. This is an increase in 495 from 2011. Specialty trade contractors consist of carpenters, brick and stone masons, tile and marble setters, roofers, drywall installers, sheet metal workers, ceiling tile installers, and many more.

9. Nonresidential Building Construction

Nonresidential construction in 2015 is expected to surpass 2014 totals by 8 percent according to The American Institute of Architects. Buildings and developments in this category include hotels, amusement parks, stores, office and public safety buildings, industrial facilities, schools, healthcare facilities, and churches.

10. Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services

The professionals in this industry include building architects, landscape architects, surveyors, photogrammetrists and engineers, including those who specialize in aerospace agricultural, biomedical, chemical, electrical and civil engineering.

The Bottom Line

More than half of the top ten fasting growing industries are directly related to new-home construction. This includes real estate and broker offices. Non-residential building construction is also part of the top ten. The construction industry in general may be one to keep an eye on, given these signs of recovery