ABC Unveils Jobs Proposal for the Construction Industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today unveiled its 2010 Job Creation Proposal, a wide-ranging package of recommendations that will help to stimulate the construction industry and put Americans back to work.  

“We believe these measures are a much-needed first step to get this nation's construction industry moving again,” said ABC President and CEO Kirk Pickerel. “With construction in this country nearly at a standstill and the industry unemployment rate at a staggering 24.7 percent — more than twice the national average — it is imperative for Congress to enact meaningful job creation legislation.”  

In order to kick-start the lagging economy and put the men and women of the construction industry back to work, ABC recommends the following: eliminating uncertainty in the business environment by calling on Congress and the administration to focus on free-enterprise initiatives and open competition instead of anti-business legislative and regulatory proposals; increasing access to capital for new construction projects and viable, low-risk projects/contracts that simply need funding in order for work to commence; providing meaningful tax relief and reducing the tax burden on hard-working Americans and small businesses; enacting a national comprehensive energy plan that includes new construction and upgrades to the nation's insufficient and crumbling infrastructure; allowing the entire construction industry workforce to participate in federally funded or federally assisted projects; and supporting construction training programs that will attract new skilled workers.  

“We are all facing unprecedented economic challenges, and ABC members, both large and small construction firms, are eager to stimulate growth, spur job creation and get back to building America. Implementation of ABC's recommendations will help to jump start the construction industry during this economic downturn,” said Pickerel.  

To read the ABC 2010 Job Creation Proposal, go here.