Title: Residential construction data and sources | Cercha

Description: Explore construction data on permits, workforce, licensing and insurance. Check geography, period and definitions before comparing records.

Canonical: https://cercha.pages.dev/research/

# Residential construction data and sources

Source records

Start with the question, then check what the dataset measures and where it applies.

If you are comparing service areas or looking for a licensing reference, choose the dataset below that matches your question. Read its column definitions, geography, reporting period and source notes first. Follow the source link when you need a current record.

## Compare like records

Use [residential permits by metro](/research/residential-permits-by-metro/) for a geography-and-period comparison. Use [construction workforce by trade](/research/construction-workforce-by-trade/) when checking the occupation measured. Keep counts, units and coverage together when taking notes.

Do not turn an area-level count into a claim about a particular builder's workload or a crew's availability. Ask the company about the specific job and schedule.

## Find the authority behind the table

Use [contractor licensing by state](/research/contractor-licensing-by-state/) to find the source for a licensing question. Confirm current status with the responsible board. Save the source date and any follow-up answer with your own project records.

## Where Cercha fits

Cercha Search helps you find trades by location, while profiles and endorsements give context for a conversation. Use source records for your checks and confirm availability directly through the project conversation.

- [Construction workforce by trade](</research/construction-workforce-by-trade/>)

  Employment, median employee pay, employer establishments, and nonemployer businesses answer different questions. This table keeps their periods and scopes separate.
- [Contractor licensing by state](</research/contractor-licensing-by-state/>)

  A state-by-state starting point for checking residential contractor credentials, with a separate electrical, plumbing, and HVAC table. Unverified fields stay blank.
- [Residential building permits by metro](</research/residential-permits-by-metro/>)

  A metro comparison of authorized housing units, their structure mix, and the change from 2024. Permits describe authorization, not construction starts or open jobs.
- [Triangle housing permits by county](</research/triangle-permits-by-county/>)

  Seven Triangle counties authorized 23,643 residential housing units in 2025. Compare final annual totals and monthly releases before choosing where to pursue work.
- [Workers’ compensation by state](</research/workers-comp-by-state/>)

  Construction coverage triggers, owner treatment, subcontractor rules, and public lookup resources for 51 jurisdictions. Read the conditions and verification gaps together.

## Build your connections

[Ask about the beta](</beta/>)