Painting and wall covering contractors
NAICS Code: 238320
BLS projects Painting and wall covering contractors to grow +0.7% through 2034 - 1.7 points slower than the 2.4% average across 291 U.S. industries, faster-growing than 34% of them. Its trajectory is close to the typical U.S. industry.
Where Painting and wall covering contractors sits among all industries
Projected 2024-2034 growth across 291 U.S. industries (BLS). This industry is marked in rose.
Where Painting and wall covering contractors sits by projected growth
Projected employment change across tracked industries
0.7% Top 66% higher than 34% of 291 industries
Industries, banded by projected growth
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more industries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source BLS Employment Projections · 2026-05-15
Steady-state read
Signature: 31.7% mean employer AI exposure across 17 tracked public companies .
Projected growth is middling and the public-company overlay is sparse - the BLS employment path is the primary evidence; company grades are a light secondary read.
NAICS 238320 · 210,300 workers (2024, ×1k) · source BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034. Employer AI grades are occupation-weighted scores from our SEC cohort, not automation predictions for every establishment in Painting and wall covering contractors.
Public companies near this industry
SEC industry labels matching tokens from Painting and wall covering contractors. 17 companies scored · mean AI exposure 31.7%.
| Company | AI grade |
|---|---|
| Argan Inc | A |
| Brookfield Business Corp | A |
| Brookfield Business Partners L.P. | A |
| Construction Partners, Inc. | A |
| Ferrovial SE | A |
| Fluor Corp | A |
| Geo Group Inc | A |
| Granite Construction Inc | A |
Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure from our employer corpus - not a claim that every establishment in Painting and wall covering contractors shares the same risk. Source: SEC company metadata + O*NET-weighted scores · as of 2026-05-15.
Peer Industries by Employment
How Painting and wall covering contractors (NAICS 238320) compares to industries of similar size, ordered by 2024 BLS employment.
| Industry | 2024 | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Waste collection | 217,200 | +6.0% |
| Automotive equipment rental and leasing | 215,100 | +3.4% |
| Painting and wall covering contractors | 210,300 | +0.7% |
| Educational support services; private | 207,700 | +9.4% |
| Grantmaking and giving services | 203,700 | +5.6% |
| School and employee bus transportation | 203,000 | +2.7% |
Peers are selected by similarity in 2024 employment. Figures in thousands. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people work in Painting and wall covering contractors?
As of 2024, the Painting and wall covering contractors industry employs approximately 210,300 workers in the United States, according to BLS Employment Projections data.
Is Painting and wall covering contractors growing or declining?
The Painting and wall covering contractors industry is projected to grow by 0.7% from 2024 to 2034, a net change of +1,400 jobs over the decade.
Which public companies sit near Painting and wall covering contractors?
17 tracked public companies whose SEC industry label matches Painting and wall covering contractors. Sample names include Argan Inc, Brookfield Business Corp, Brookfield Business Partners L.P.. Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure scores, not company-specific automation forecasts.
How will AI affect the Painting and wall covering contractors industry?
Among 17 tracked public companies tied to this industry's sector, the mean occupation-weighted AI exposure score is 31.7% (most common grade A). That is a staffing-pattern signal from our employer corpus, not a forecast for every firm in Painting and wall covering contractors. Pair it with occupation-level AI exposure scores for role-specific risk.
Where to look next
What to do with this
Use Painting and wall covering contractors' employment and exposure numbers above to look up individual employers and occupations, not just the industry aggregate.
- See how public employers in this and other industries rank nationwide by AI displacement risk. Employer AI risk rankings
- Browse individual occupations to see exposure and wage detail below the industry level. Browse all occupations
- Compare this industry's outlook against a specific occupation or employer using the interactive tool. Workforce comparison tool
Industry-level figures are aggregates; individual employer and occupation outcomes vary.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034; SEC employer metadata for AI grades Employment figures in thousands. Employer grades are occupation-weighted exposure scores, not firm automation forecasts