The 2024 Merit Shop Scorecard ranks Wisconsin, Arkansas, and Florida as leaders in the construction industry, with Wisconsin taking the top spot. The annual scorecard by the Associated Builders and Contractors evaluates all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on policies that support career pathways, workforce development, and competition in taxpayer-funded projects. Wisconsin earned its No. 1 ranking for its fair competition policies, job growth in construction, commitment to technical education, and its workforce development pipeline, which outperforms national labor supply demands.

"Through a sustained level of positive job growth in construction and a commitment to high-quality career and technical education, Wisconsin has set the standard for workforce development in the construction industry," the press release stated.

Arkansas came in second, excelling in workforce development and education, while Florida, Arizona, and Indiana remain high performers, with policies that foster workforce growth and a skilled labor force. The bottom five states were ranked poorly for supporting merit shop contractors, including Washington, D.C., Illinois, New York, and Hawaii.

The scorecard assesses state laws in seven categories: project labor agreements, prevailing wage laws, right-to-work laws, public-private partnerships, workforce development, career technical education (CTE), and job growth rates.