Report: Construction Backlog Indicator dips, contractor confidence up
By Jack Kopanski | Originally posted on pitandquarry.com The Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) reports its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.3 months in February, according to an ABC member survey. The reading is up 0.2 months since February 2024. Backlog fell on a monthly basis for contractors with less than $100 million in annual revenues while […]
Materials Prices Rise in February, Iron and Steel See Spikes
By Alisa Zevin | Originally posted on enr.com Construction materials prices rose 0.6% in February compared to the previous month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index released March 13. Since February 2024, prices have increased 0.3%. In the non-residential sector, monthly prices increased 0.6%. “Nonresidential input prices increased at a rapid pace […]
Government-Registered Apprenticeship Programs Still Do Not Meet Construction Workforce Needs, Says ABC
By ABC | Originally posted on wconline.com At current rates of participation and completion, federal and state government-registered apprenticeship programs, or GRAPs, are still failing to meet the construction industry’s short- and long-term skilled workforce development needs. At current rates of participation and completion, federal and state government-registered apprenticeship programs, or GRAPs, are still failing […]
Nonunion Construction Workforce Tops 80% in 41 States
By ABC | Originally posted on constructionexec.com The merit shop has the majority when it comes to employing the national construction workforce. WASHINGTON, March 12—Associated Builders and Contractors released an analysis of 2024 state union membership data published by unionstats.com, which found that in 41 states at least 80% of workers in the private construction industry […]
Bipartisan bill seeks deadlines for union contract agreements
By Zachary Phillips | Originally posted on constructiondive.com The Faster Labor Contracts Act would put a clock on labor negotiations once workers vote to form a union. Dive Brief: New bipartisan legislation with union backing could amend the National Labor Relations Act and force labor and employer parties to negotiate faster to create and ratify a collective […]
Construction groups decry PRO Act’s reintroduction
By Zachary Phillips | Originally posted on constructiondive.com Sen. Bernie Sanders was among the legislators to resubmit the law, which would make it easier for workers to form unions. Dive Brief: A group of federal lawmakers have reintroduced the Protecting the Right to Organize Act in Congress, which opponents say would tip the balance of […]
Construction Workers Continue to Flee Unions
By Dominic Pino | Originally posted on nationalreview.com One of the common misconceptions about organized labor in the United States is that it is the province of blue-collar workers in male-dominated fields. The “hard hats” voting for Nixon is still a part of the conventional wisdom about union membership, even though it is woefully out […]
From soup cans to airplanes, steel and aluminum are a fundamental part of American life
By Dee-Ann Durbin and Anne D’Innocenzio | Originally posted on apnews.com Steel and aluminum are ubiquitous in Americans’ lives. A stainless steel refrigerator holds aluminum soda cans. A stainless steel drum tumbles inside an aluminum washing machine. They’re the metals used in cars and airplanes, phones and frying pans, skyscrapers and zippers. That’s why President […]
2025 Outlook: Recent Changes in Construction Law, What Contractors Need to Know
By Steven J. Reed | Originally posted on natlawreview.com The construction industry is at a crossroads, influenced by shifting economic landscapes, technological advancements, and evolving workforce dynamics. With 2025 under way, businesses must stay ahead of key trends to remain competitive and resilient. Understanding these industry shifts is critical—not just for growth, but for long-term […]
Rand Paul Says He’ll Vote Against Trump’s Labor Secretary Nominee Because ‘She’s Very Pro Labor’
By Charlie Nash | Originally posted on mediaite.com Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) announced on Monday that he would vote against President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer. The senator told Fox News Radio correspondent Ryan Schmelz and NBC News senior political reporter Sahil Kapur he would vote “no” on Chavez-DeRemer’s confirmation and suggested that the decision came down to her “very pro labor” […]