State of the State 2022: Construction sector managing through supply chain, labor issues

By George Jared | Originally posted on talkbusiness.net The construction sector was in a precarious position as 2022 arrived. There are a robust number of commercial, residential and government related projects to be completed. Supply chain issues have stymied those efforts along with workforce shortages as COVID-19 continues. When inflation is added to the mix […]

Job Loss in January, But 91% of Jobs Back From Early Pandemic

By ABC | Originally posted on constructionequipment.com The construction industry lost 5,000 jobs on net in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) analysis of data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the industry has recovered slightly more than 1 million (91 percent) of the jobs lost during earlier stages […]

State Construction Unemployment Is Down in Every State From a Year Ago

Originally posted on metalconstructionnews.com The not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate plunged 4.6% in December 2021 from a year ago, down from 9.6% to 5%, while all 50 states had lower unemployment rates over the same period, according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. This […]

Biden signs construction PLA executive order; associations push back in objection

By Mark Buckshon | Originally posted on californiaconstructionnews.com President Joe Biden on Feb. 3 signed an executive order requiring the use of project labor agreements (PLA)s on federal construction projects of $35 million or more. The president and organized labor assert that the provision will help improve working conditions for nearly 200,000 construction workers on federal contracts. […]

ABC: Project labor agreement order ignores workforce realities

Originally posted on concreteproducts.com In light of the White House’s “Build Back Better” ambitions, Associated Builders and Contractors Vice President of Regulatory, Labor and State Affairs Ben Brubeck questions a new executive order encouraging project labor agreement (PLA) mandates on federal construction contracts exceeding $35 million. “The policy will not help America; instead, it will […]

Overcome Top Construction Risk Challenges in 2022

By Craig Tappel and Kirk Chamberlain | Originally posted on constructionexec.com Nobody was prepared for the fallout from the global pandemic, including the construction industry. But as 2022 and the pandemic’s third year arrives, contagion from new COVID-19 strains continues unabated and so has the fallout. The pressure has only intensified to get ahead of […]

Economic outlook: The issues that will boost, challenge construction in 2022

Originally posted on projin.co.kr In late December, Deron Brown was having trouble finding a hotel room in Phoenix for a January conference. And from his perspective, that was a good thing. As president and chief operating officer of U.S. operations for Edmonton, Canada-based PCL Construction, Brown constantly tries to read the tea leaves of where […]

Nonresidential Construction Employment Up 27,000 in December, According to ABC

By Greg | Originally posted on site-kconstructionzone.com The construction industry added 22,000 net jobs in December, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the industry has recovered slightly more than one million (92.1%) of the jobs lost during earlier pandemic stages. Nonresidential construction employment […]

ABC’s Construction Backlog Slips in December, Contractor Confidence Continues to Improve

Originally posted on randrmagonline.com Associated Builders and Contractors reports that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.2 months in December, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Dec. 16 to Jan. 4. The reading is down 0.2 months from November 2021, but up 0.9 months from December 2020. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index readings for sales, […]

Education & Workforce Development

Originally posted on ibj.com Educators still too focused on traditional paths In IBJ’s Thought Leadership roundtable, experts at Project Lead The Way, Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana/Kentucky, CREA Foundation and Greater Education Opportunities Foundation, discuss the state of Indiana’s education system and how it must improve to prepare Hoosiers for the workforce. Q: How […]